HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Members: Information and Communications Technology

Frank Field: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether he plans to make BlackBerry machines available for use by hon. Members.

Nick Harvey: Personal digital assistants (PDAs) and Smartphones are available to Members via PICT, the parliamentary ICT service. This service has been available since June 2006. The devices and their voice and data costs are met by individual Members while the supporting infrastructure is funded centrally. The product range is regularly reviewed and at present four different devices can be selected. BlackBerries are not available under this service because none of the responses received to the full EU tender proposed that product.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Intimidation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of bullying were reported in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in each of the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The NIO has procedures in place for dealing with complaints of harassment and bullying. Where staff wish complaints to be dealt with informally, they can approach their line management, but no central record is maintained of such approaches. During the last 12 months there has been only one formal complaint of bullying reported in the NIO core, and none in its agencies.
	Until recently, all staff joining the NIO underwent mandatory equal opportunities awareness training as part of their induction, which included guidance on appropriate behaviour in the workplace. This has been replaced by a new diversity course, concentrating on treating others with dignity, which is also currently being rolled out to the whole Department.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Political Parties: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance on  (a) loans and  (b) donations has been sent to regulated donees by the Electoral Commission in the last 12 months.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it published new guidance on donations for regulated donees in Northern Ireland in October 2007. The Commission wrote to all MPs, MEPs and MLAs representing Northern Ireland or Northern Ireland constituencies, setting out the broad scope of the donation controls and alerting them to publication of the guidance.
	Additionally, it wrote to the Labour leadership and deputy leadership candidates in May 2007 and the Liberal Democrat leadership candidates in October 2007. These letters summarised the donees' requirements to record, check permissibility and report in relation to both donations and loans.
	The Commission regularly gives advice on request to regulated donees on particular issues related to loans and donations.

Recruitment of Chairman

Ann Clwyd: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what are the arrangements for the recruitment of a new Chairman of the Commission when Mr Sam Younger's term expires on 1 January 2009.

Peter Viggers: Under section 3 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, the appointment of the Chairman of the Electoral Commission is subject to the agreement of Mr. Speaker. The Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission has proposed a panel to recommend the appointment and Mr. Speaker has invited the following to serve on this panel:
	Baroness Fritchie (Chair)
	Cindy Butts (nominated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments)
	Sir Neil McIntosh
	David Norgrove
	Peter Viggers MP

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Casualties

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of HM Armed Forces were killed in off-duty road traffic accidents in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Information on the detailed causes of deaths to UK regular armed forces personnel is only currently available up to December 2006. The numbers killed in off-duty road traffic accidents (on the public highway) in each year between 2002 and 2006 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Deaths due to off-duty road traffic accidents: UK regular armed forces, numbers, 2002-06 
			   Number 
			 2002 55 
			 2003 40 
			 2004 46 
			 2005 44 
			 2006 49 
			 Total 234

Armed Forces: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK armed forces personnel were deployed on operations at the most recent date for which figures are available, broken down by location of deployment.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the number of UK service personnel deployed on operations by location at 14 January 2008. The number of personnel in theatre will naturally fluctuate on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including leave (rest and recuperation), temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces and other factors.
	
		
			  Number of personnel deployed by location( 1) 
			  Location  Number 
			 Total 13,480 
			  Of which:  
			 Afghanistan 6,800 
			 Iraq 4,600 
			 At Sea 620 
			 Qatar 410 
			 Cyprus 280 
			 Kuwait 350 
			 Oman 180 
			 Kosovo 120 
			 Bahrain 60 
			 Bosnia 10 
			 Other 30 
			 (1) Countries with 10 or more personnel are shown separately. Other countries with fewer than 10 personnel per country include Georgia, Nepal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia.

Armed Forces: Schools

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total budget was for Service Children's Education schools in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: Service Children's Education's overall R-DEL (Resourced Departmental Expenditure Limit) Control Totals (CTs) for each of the past five years was as follows:
	
		
			   £ Million 
			 2003-04 65.634 
			 2004-05 73.705 
			 2005-06 74.769 
			 2006-07 75.600 
			 2007-08 73.347 
		
	
	The reduction in Resource Control Totals between 2006-07 and 2007-08 reflects the internal transfer of responsibility and funding for Estates Maintenance to Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) with effect from 1 September 2006.

Civilians: Pay

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British citizens employed overseas at Ministry of Defence establishments receive wages lower than the UK minimum wage; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. There are no UK-based civilians (UKBCs) employed overseas at Ministry of Defence establishments in receipt of pay below the UK minimum wage. MOD does employ locally engaged civilians (LECs) overseas. The majority of civilian personnel employed overseas by MOD are LECs and not civil servants. LECs are recruited locally, and may be nationals of the host country, expatriates or accompanying dependants of MOD personnel (UKBCs or service personnel). LECs are employed on terms and conditions analogous with local employment law and market forces, and not those of the UK.

Clause 21

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what means he has implemented Clause 21 of the military covenant.

Derek Twigg: The Military Covenant is a stand-alone paragraph contained within the Army Doctrine (Land Operations); it does not contain any clauses.
	Under the War Pensions Scheme, the Department has the discretionary power in article 21 of the Service Pensions Order to meet the cost of any necessary expenses in respect of the medical, surgical or rehabilitative treatment of a member of the armed forces that arise wholly or mainly arise as a result of the disablement due to service where it is not provided for free of charge under other legislation of the United Kingdom. This power predates the NHS and is now little used. The two main areas of expenditure under this provision are (1) the individual costs of war pensioners undergoing 'remedial treatment' at homes run by Combat Stress and (2) treatment costs for war pensioners who reside overseas.

Departmental Computers

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement of 21 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1225, on MoD (data loss), how many of the 347 laptops stolen or lost from the Ministry of Defence since 2004 have been recovered.

Des Browne: As a result of the theft of the Royal Navy laptop, the Ministry of Defence has initiated an investigation into the details of all computers lost or stolen since 2003. This investigation is under way and I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available and arrange for a copy of my letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Data Protection

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many security breaches regarding access to personal data have occurred within his Department in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: The Department's security incident reporting system does not currently identify breaches relating to access to personal data as a separate category. We are now putting in place arrangements to identify such incidents on the database.

Educational Support

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Oral Answer of 21 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1195, on educational support, when the service indicator was introduced into the annual school census; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 28 January 2008
	 The service indicator on the annual school census in England was introduced in January 2008.

Iraq: Hercules Aircraft

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2007,  Official Report, column 452W, on Iraq: Hercules aircraft, when his Department plans to implement the recommendations (g) and (k) of the Board of Inquiry report.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 13 December 2007
	Recommendation G stated that the Hercules C130K should be fitted with a basic aircraft data recorder. This is not a safety feature but an air accident investigation tool.
	This recommendation was not pursued following a cost-benefit analysis which concluded that it was not cost-effective given the time it would take to fit the equipment compared with the expected out of service date for Hercules.
	For recommendation K, a draft Information Exchange Agreement on the routine sharing of transport aircraft vulnerability data has been passed to the US. We are working to bring this work to a conclusion as soon as possible.

Iraq: Military Equipment

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 480-1W, on Iraq: military equipment, what personnel training and mentoring of Iraqi forces, UK troops are providing at  (a) brigade,  (b) division and  (c) battle group level.

Des Browne: The provision of training, mentoring and monitoring of Iraqi Security Forces is a primary task for UK forces in Iraq, with training provided to 10(th) and 14(th) Iraqi Army Divisions at divisional, brigade and battalion level. At the divisional level, training and mentoring focuses on the appropriate structures required of a divisional HQ.
	At brigade level, it focuses on the practicalities and execution of joint operations, while the battalion level receives dedicated infantry training.
	Training is also provided to The Department for Border Enforcement and the Iraqi Police Service.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many days of rest and recuperation leave personnel deployed to  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan lost on average as a result of delays in the airbridge in each of the last 12 months.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 14 November 2007,  Official Report, column 257, to the hon. Member for Guildford (Anne Milton).

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which units have been deployed to  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan over the last 12 months with full-strength bearing; and how many troops were deployed. [R]

Des Browne: holding answer 28 January 2008
	 All units deploy at the required strength for the tasks they are asked to fulfil during their operational tour.
	Information on the number of troops from each unit which deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in the last 12 months is being collated. I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available.

Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role of Ministry of Defence Guarding Agency officers is in supporting the British armed forces.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) is the uniformed, unarmed element forming part of the larger Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency. The MGS provide an unarmed guarding service to Defence personnel and property.

Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at which locations Ministry of Defence Guarding Agency officers have replaced Ministry of Defence Police officers since 2003.

Derek Twigg: There is one recorded instance since 2003 where the Ministry of Defence Guard Service have directly replaced the Ministry of Defence Police at a Defence establishment. This was at DSDA Longtown, Cumbria, in 2004.

Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency: Recruitment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recruiting goals for Ministry of Defence Guarding Agency were in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) has no set annual targets for recruitment. Instead it keeps recruiting requirements under constant review and recruits sufficient MGS officers to meet the numbers required to provide an unarmed guarding function across the defence estate.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Alcoholic Drinks: Licensing

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many premises of each type in each region have  (a) an extended and  (b) a 24-hour alcohol licence;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of applications for extended alcohol licences have been rejected since the coming into force of the Licensing Act 2003.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Under the Licensing Act 2003 there are no nationally set prescribed hours. Premises licence holders may apply to vary their hours; however, each application has to be considered locally on its merit and may be rejected. This information is not held centrally
	Data collected for the latest DCMS Statistical Bulletin on Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment, were published on 8 November 2007 and show that, between April 2006 and March 2007, of the 162,053 total premises licences 5,126 were for 24 hours. It should be noted that, of these, 2,493 are hotels which only serve private guests and friends of guests. These premises were able to serve guests for 24 hours under the old licensing regime.
	A breakdown by region is as follows:
	
		
			  Region  24 hour licences 
			 East midlands 221 
			 East of England 400 
			 London 417 
			 North-east 135 
			 North-west 1,511 
			 South-east 685 
			 South-west 1,095 
			 Wales 179 
			 West Midlands 279 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 204 
			  Note: Information was not provided by every licensing authority.

Arts

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to his Department's press release of 22 January 2008, what his Department's estimate is of the proportion of the total population that participated in artistic activities in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 28 January 2008
	According to the Taking Part survey, 77 per cent. of all adults in England have taken part in the arts in the last 12 months. 66 per cent. of people attended arts events, 52 per cent. of people participated in an arts activity, and 43 per cent. did both.

Arts: Grants

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which recurrently funded organisations are to receive  (a) a reduced grant and  (b) no grant following the conclusions of the Arts Council England's review, broken down by Government office region.

Margaret Hodge: The Arts Council operates at arm's length from the Government and decisions about which arts organisations to fund are entirely for them.
	The arm's length principle ensures that the arts are not 'run' by the Government and are not subject to political interference Individual funding decisions are taken independently by people with expert knowledge of the sector.
	The Arts Council have said the following in response to requests to see the names of the organisations listed in their proposals:
	"Our proposals for non-renewal of funding cannot be made available until our National and Regional Councils make final decisions. This information is considered confidential and commercially sensitive during the response period. This is especially so in the case of a recommendation that might be overturned by the National Council or a Regional Council. Regularly funded organisations who have a right to respond to our recommendation, should be able to do so freely without fear that our intention to reduce or stop their funding is potentially unnecessarily, and without their consent, released into the public domain. A full announcement will be made at the beginning of February."

Arts: TBR

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has paid the consultants TBR to conduct the arts survey announced on 22 January.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 28 January 2008
	The research project conducted by TBR will cost £75,000. DCMS is paying £45,000 and Arts Council England is contributing £30,000.
	The project aims to:
	map the voluntary arts sector in England
	assess opportunities for growth in the sector and
	consider the impact of adult and community learning on participation in the arts and crafts.
	The report will be published in the summer.

Cultural Heritage

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what role he expects the heritage sector to play in the delivery of his Department's public service agreement targets.

Margaret Hodge: The heritage sector plays a crucial role in ensuring that everyone is able to enjoy and participate in the cultural life of the nation. The Taking Part Survey estimates that 70 per cent. of people visited a historic site at least once during the past 12 months.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to reduce his Department's carbon dioxide emissions in 2008-09.

Margaret Hodge: The Department has devised a plan which has identified potential savings of 562 tonnes of CO2 by March 2009.
	In particular, the Department plans to replace its gas boilers with ones which are more efficient. This will significantly reduce our carbon emissions. We are seeking advice from the Carbon Trust on this.

Departmental ICT

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the  (a) start date,  (b) original planned completion date,  (c) current expected completion date,  (d) planned cost and  (e) current estimated cost is for each information technology project being undertaken by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department is undertaking the following information technology projects:
	
		
			  Project  (a) Start date  (b) Original planned completion date  (c) Current expected completion date  (d) Planned cost  (e) Current estimated cost 
			 Electronic document management system October2007 October 2008 October 2008 £1.5 million £1.5 million 
			   
			 Migration of Department's websites to new content management system February2008 June 2008 June 2008 £250,000 £250,000 
			   
			 Migration of ICT services to a new outsourcing contract January 2008 May 2008 May 2008 £647,000 £647,000

Departmental Marketing

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what products featuring departmental or Government branding were procured by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The following items were procured by the Department in the last five years bearing the Departments branding:
	250 pens in 2003;
	200 mugs in 2003;
	13 T-shirts in 2007.
	 (b) The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate costs.

English Heritage

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of  (a) his Department's and  (b) English Heritage's policies on the conservation of stone in English cathedrals; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Works to listed cathedral buildings are exempted from the need to obtain listed building consent, on account of the structures and procedures put in place by the Church of England to agree such works. Decisions as to how works are undertaken are made by Church bodies.
	The Department's listed places of worship grant scheme supports repairs to English cathedrals by making grants equivalent to the VAT incurred. English Heritage also makes grants towards cathedral repairs.
	My Department looks to English Heritage to provide specialist advice on matters of conservation.

Football

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial commitments were made to the Government by the premier league as part of the recent broadcasting agreement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 24 January 2008
	 Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have had a number of discussions with the premier league about the funding contribution to good causes following their broadcasting agreement.
	These discussions are nearing completion and we intend formally to announce the detail of the funding in the near future.

Heritage Lottery Fund

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been distributed by the Heritage Lottery Fund in each year since 1995, expressed in 2007-08 prices.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 25 January 2008
	The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Heritage lottery fund (HLF) awards by financial year, expressed in 2007-08 prices 
			  Year of award  Value of awards  RPI year-average  Value of awards at 2007-08 average prices( 1) 
			 1995-96 195,267,557 150.2 270,150,455 
			 1996-97 476,899,459 155.4 637,707,256 
			 1997-98 325,228,374 158.8 425,559,885 
			 1998-99 351,143,796 163.8 445,581,482 
			 1999-2000 268,842,743 166.4 335,831,211 
			 2000-01 333,566,630 171.3 404,602,466 
			 2001-02 320,722,772 173.8 383,464,856 
			 2002-03 345,834,965 177.5 404,832,442 
			 2003-04 329,487,834 182.5 375,216,177 
			 2004-05 367,638,574 188.2 406,033,993 
			 2005-06 318,650,170 193.1 342,893,049 
			 2006-07 315,161,358 200.3 326,935,004 
			 Total 3,948,444,232 — 4,758,808,276 
			 (1) Based on the retail prices index used by HLF Finance Dept for investment management.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Members: Allowances

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2008,  Official Report, column 511W, on Members: allowances, what rules in the Green Book apply to claims against the additional cost allowance for the costs of local authority charges for the collection of household rubbish; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Goodman: The rules in the Green Book allow hon. Members to stay overnight away from home in order to perform their parliamentary duties for which appropriate costs are reimbursed.
	The Members Estimate Committee will review the Green Book in the light of the debate on Members' pay, pensions and allowances on 24 January 2008. Powers in the Climate Change Bill for local authorities to pilot waste incentive schemes for domestic waste are not yet in use. Consequently, no such claims have been received or paid. However, if charges are introduced as part of such schemes, the House will review whether it is appropriate to reimburse waste charges incurred by Members, given their purpose to act as a financial incentive to increase recycling and reduce the total amount of waste or whether, as with the congestion charge, Members are required to make all payments themselves.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Community Care: Finance

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding has been available for community care grants nationally in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Community Care Grant budget in Great Britain (£ million) 
			 1997-98 97 
			 1998-99 98 
			 1999-2000 98 
			 2000-01 100 
			 2001-02 103 
			 2002-03 108 
			 2003-04 118 
			 2004-05 128 
			 2005-06 138 
			 2006-07 141 
			 2007-08 141 
			  Note: There is also a small contingency reserve (which has varied between £0.5 million and £2 million) which is available to cover unforeseen spending, for example, on flooding.  Source: Annual reports on the Social Fund by the Secretary of State for Social Security/Work and Pensions.

Housing Benefit

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in receipt of housing benefit in each local authority in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The information for Great Britain has been placed in the Library. Information regarding Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Incapacity Benefit: Appeals

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to maintain levels of  (a) income support and  (b) jobseekers allowance of those recipients of such benefits who have lodged appeals against the removal of incapacity benefit.

James Plaskitt: Incapacity benefit claimants found capable of work and who appeal the decision may either claim jobseeker's allowance, which is paid at the full personal allowance rate but minus any disability premiums, unless they qualify for those premiums on alternative grounds; or claim income support, but at a reduced rate. If on appeal the decision is overturned, benefit will be restored in full from the appropriate date.
	We currently have no plans to change these rules.

Incapacity Benefit: Appeals

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against incapacity benefit removal were made in each year since 2003; what proportion of such appeals were successful; and how much income support or jobseekers allowance was not paid to appellants who were subsequently successful.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	From April 2003 until March 2007 261,660 appeals have been received by the Appeal Tribunal against decisions not to award incapacity benefit. 92,977 of the appeal outcomes were in favour of the appellant.
	
		
			  Incapacity benefit (all cases) 
			Received  Cleared in favour 
			 SSCSA April 2002 to March 2003 61,148 19,631 
			  April 2003 to March 2004 62,970 22,253 
			  April 2004 to March 2005 62,609 21,144 
			  April 2005 to March 2006 63,646 23,680 
			  April 2006 to March 2007 72,435 25,900 
		
	
	Figures for the amount of income support and jobseeker's allowance not paid to appellants who were subsequently successful are not held by the Department for Work and Pensions because it is not possible to cross-reference incapacity benefit (IB) appeals with the data on income support (IS) and jobseekers allowance (JSA) recipients. To provide a figure the Department for Work and Pensions would need to identify which IB appellants subsequently claimed IS and JSA and they are unable to do this with the data they hold.

Local Housing Allowance

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support local housing allowance recipients without bank accounts will receive after April 2008.

James Plaskitt: The evaluation evidence from the Local Housing Allowance Pathfinders showed clearly that money advice services provided by local authorities were working well. With help from local authorities, and partners such as welfare organisations, credit unions and banks themselves, around 96 per cent. of customers in Pathfinder areas now have a bank or building society account.
	The evaluation evidence also shows that around a quarter of customers in Pathfinder areas said that they opened the account so that they could receive payment of the housing allowance. We are sharing the lessons learnt through the Pathfinders during national rollout to help those without access to a bank account to open one.
	We are also encouraging local authorities to ensure that payment facilities are available for the small proportion of customers who cannot open a bank account.
	The Department for Work and Pensions is leading a campaign to help financially excluded people access free money advice. The "Now Let's Talk Money" campaign will direct them to suitable bank accounts, local trusted sources of affordable credit and confidential advice.

Local Housing Allowance

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether recipients of local housing allowance will be able to receive payments into post office card accounts after April 2008; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: No. The Post Office card account does not have the facility to receive any deposits other than a state benefit.

National Insurance: Foreigners

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many national insurance numbers were issued to foreign nationals in each local authority area since 1 January 2004.

James Plaskitt: Information is not available prior to 2005-06. The available information has been placed in the Library.

National Insurance: Immigrants

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions his Department has checked the immigration status of applicants for national insurance numbers since 2006; and how many applications were refused as a result.

James Plaskitt: Applications for national insurance numbers for employment purposes have automatically been subject to a proof of right to work check since July 2006.
	Management information shows that between July 2006 and 30 November 2007 8,643 such applications were refused on the basis of not satisfying the right to work requirement. Details of these cases have been passed to the Border and Immigration Agency.

Pensioners

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of UK citizens who reached state retirement age and had never been employed in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, 29 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply your parliamentary question on the proportion of UK citizens who reached state retirement age and had never been employed in the UK. (181633)
	According to the labour force survey (LFS) for the three months ending November 2007, it is estimated that 400,000, or 3 per cent. of the 11 million UK nationals living in the UK who were at, or over, retirement age, had never worked.
	The LFS estimates at this detailed level are only consistent with the UK population estimates published in February and March 2003 and they do not incorporate the more recent population estimates that are used in the monthly Labour Market First Release
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Social Security Benefits: Lone Parents

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of single mothers receiving  (a) child support and  (b) housing in Romford; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.

Unemployment: Young People

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged  (a) 16 to 18 and  (b) 18 to 24 years were unemployed on (i) 1 May 1997 and (ii) the most recent date for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, 21  January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply your parliamentary question on how many people aged  (a) 16 to 18 and  (b) 18 to 24 years were unemployed (i) on 1 May 1997 and (ii) on the most recent date for which figures are available, (181650) The information in the following table is from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and is the closest match to your request using published statistics. The data are seasonally adjusted and weighted to the most recently published UK population estimates.
	
		
			  Number of people unemployed 
			  Thousand 
			   Three months ending May 1997  Three months ending  November  2007 
			 Aged l6 to 17 years 168 197 
			 Aged 18 to 24 years 489 516 
		
	
	Seasonally adjusted estimates of International Labour Organisation unemployment levels and rates by age are published each month in the labour market statistics first release. Please visit the following link:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/LMS_FR_HS/WebTable09_age.xls
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Noise

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department has spent on the Attitudes to Noise from Aviation Sources report on aircraft noise.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The cost of the ANASE project was £1,401,517.60.

Aviation: Security

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the aviation security summit referred to by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State the hon. Member for Poplar and Canning Town (Jim Fitzpatrick) in the Westminster Hall debate on 10 July 2007,  Official Report, column 366WH, took place; what conclusions were reached at the summit; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The summit was hosted by the Secretary of State on 19 July 2007 and was attended by senior representatives from the aviation industry. The main conclusions from the summit were that Government and industry should work together to ensure passengers arriving at airports last summer were better prepared and to consider how the one bag restriction can be lifted without compromising security.

Bus Services: Concessions

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the total estimated cost of providing the national free concessionary bus pass scheme for pensioners in the Taunton Deane area was in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006,  (c) 2007 and  (d) 2008 to date; and what the actual costs were in each of these years;
	(2)  how much has been allocated to Taunton Deane Borough Council to fund national free concessionary bus travel scheme for pensioners in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006,  (c) 2007 and  (d) 2008 to date; and what percentage of that cost was provided by Central Government.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 25 January 2008
	 Funding for concessionary travel is part of a block within Revenue Support Grant (RSG), so it is not possible to disaggregate information for the allocation of it to individual Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs) in 2005, 2006 and 2007. For the extra cost of the all-England bus concession from April 2008 an additional £212 million will be paid directly to TCAs in England by special grant, rising to £217 million in 2009-10 and £223 million in 2010-11. In the provisional distribution of the grant in 2008-09 Taunton Deane borough council would receive £0.388 million through the special grant. This is in addition to their existing concessionary fares funding through RSG and represents an increase of 33 per cent. on the amount they spent on concessionary fares in 2006-07.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she has taken to reduce her Department's carbon dioxide emissions in 2008-09.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has engaged with the Carbon Trust to produce a carbon management energy efficiency report which gives recommendations across the Department on new schemes, estate enhancements and best practice that will bring about a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. The report has recently been completed and the Department is currently developing an action plan which details the recommendations to be implemented, timescale for implementation and the estimated emissions savings. The plan is expected to be finalised by 31 March 2008.
	Additionally, the Department for Transport has commissioned a Green Fleet Review from the Energy Saving Trust and will be acting upon its recommendations. The Department will also be using the Sustainable Procurement Task Force's "Flexible Framework" to benchmark its capability to deliver sustainable procurement and we will be utilising an ongoing programme of staff training, workshops and guidance to reinforce the message.

Departmental Contracts

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultancy contracts her Department issued in each year since 2005; what the  (a) value,  (b) purpose and  (c) contractor was in each case; and whether the consultant's report is publicly available in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Lists have been placed in the Libraries of the House for commissions recorded within the Department and its agencies accounting systems as consultancy for financial years 2005-06 and 2006-07.
	The Department does not generally publish reports prepared by consultants that it has engaged. However, requests for copies of such reports would be considered under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Departmental Data Protection

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the statement of 17 December 2007, on data loss, what personal data for which her Department is responsible are  (a) stored and  (b) processed overseas; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 7 January 2008
	 The Department for Transport includes its seven agencies, a shared service centre and the central Department. The only business unit within the Department that is responsible for significant amounts of personal information that is stored and/or processed overseas is the Driving Standards Agency.
	The Driving Standards Agency has a contract with Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd. for the delivery of the driving theory test. Pursuant to this contract, the following data on candidates sitting their test are stored and processed in the United States:
	Title; First name; Surname; Address; Postcode; Alternative postal address (if required); Phone number (optional); e-mail (optional); Date of birth; Gender; Specific card details that enable payment to be taken i.e. expiry date, card number, name, issue number; Date of test; Location of test; Test Score; Response to each multiple choice question; Response to each hazard perception test clip; Test category taken; Test pass/fail; Pass certificate number (if applicable); Special accommodation arranged i.e. voice over language, reader recorder,; British sign language/signer, translator (if required); Survey responses (optional); and Ethnic group (optional).
	The Vehicle Certification Agency has offices in US, Japan, Malaysia, India and China. These offices keep small volumes of personal information of its UK Civil Servants based overseas, locally employed staff and contractors. The total number of individuals included is less that 100, five of which are VCA UK civil servants.
	The central Department has a contract with Penna plc for the storage and processing of data relating to the performance management of DFT staff. These data are stored and processed in the United States. The information held includes employee name, team, e-mail address, gender, employee ID, pay band and responses to assessment questions. Approximately 8,800 records relating to civil servants are currently stored.

Heathrow Airport: Construction

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to take account of the implications of the accident involving flight BA038 in developing her policy on the expansion of Heathrow.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The recent incident at Heathrow is currently being investigated by the air accidents investigation branch (AAIB), and it is not appropriate at this stage to speculate on the cause. We will be awaiting the outcome of the investigation, which will include such recommendations as the AAIB deems appropriate.
	Heathrow remains a very safe airport and safety continues to be our foremost concern as we develop proposals for adding capacity at Heathrow.

Heathrow Airport: Noise

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of which postcode areas would lose their break in the day from aircraft noise as a result of ending runway alternation at Heathrow;
	(2)  which postcode areas will be exposed to increased noise by the ending of the Cranford Agreement on Heathrow airport;
	(3)  which postcode areas would experience increased noise by the ending of the westerly preference at Heathrow airport;
	(4)  which postcode areas would experience less noise as a result of ending the Cranford Agreement in relation to Heathrow airport;
	(5)  which postcode areas will experience less noise as a result of ending the westerly preference at Heathrow airport;
	(6)  which postcode areas would be adversely affected by noise as a result of building a third runway at Heathrow airport; and which postcode areas would be added to the 157 dB Leq noise contour for Heathrow as a result of building a third runway;
	(7)  which postcode areas are affected by noise from Heathrow airport at the level of 50 dB;
	(8)  which postcode areas will be affected by aircraft noise at a level of 50 dB or greater as a result of building a third runway at Heathrow.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The noise effects of the various possible changes at Heathrow are illustrated by a series of noise contours contained in the supporting technical report 'Revised Future Aircraft Noise Exposure Estimates for Heathrow Airport' issued as part of the current consultation 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport'. Contours are shown from 57dBA, with 54dBA contours included for sensitivity purposes. In addition, the Department's website includes a facility allowing individuals to identify the likely change in noise levels, by postcode, under the various proposals. This includes Heathrow options with and without the Cranford agreement, mixed mode and a third runway. The noise levels are from 57dBA upwards and are presented with both a westerly preference and an easterly preference. They are indicative and should be used only as a guide.
	The search facility includes postcodes in the following local authority areas: Bracknell Forest, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston-upon-Thames, Richmond upon Thames, Runnymede, Slough, South Bucks, Spelthorne, Wandsworth, Windsor and Maidenhead. Areas outside those boroughs are not expected to experience any change. Further information is on the website at:
	www.dft.gov.uk/heathrowconsultation
	and the postcode facility can be accessed at:
	www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/heathrowconsultation/furtherinformation/postcodesearch/ .

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor vehicles were crushed for non-payment of road tax in  (a) the county of Essex and  (b) the Chelmsford Local Authority area in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Regional figures are unavailable prior to 2002.
	Vehicles scrapped in Essex and Chelmsford since 2002 are available in the following table.
	
		
			   Essex  Chelmsford 
			 2002 75 3 
			 2003 1,056 2 
			 2004 1,034 31 
			 2005 829 1 
			 2006 907 82 
			 2007 1,110 209 
			 Total 5,011 328

Railways: Kent

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with South Eastern Railway on the potential premium costs of using Javelin-operated high speed domestic services from Kent to St. Pancras.

Tom Harris: holding answer 28 January 2008
	The premium fares that may be charged for domestic high speed services are specified in the Franchise Agreement between the Secretary of State, and London and South Eastern Railways (LSER).
	At this stage, the Department has not had any discussions with LSER on the premium fares that may be charged on domestic high speed services.

Travel: Concessions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis the allocation of £212 million for the National Concessionary Fares Scheme extension from 2008-09 was calculated; what the funding allocation for all transport authorities in the south-east except London is for that year; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The £212 million funding allocation for 2008-09 is based on generous assumptions about increasing take-up of passes (85 per cent. in aggregate across England), extra journeys (10 per cent. or £100 million), and average fare (£1.34). It also includes a significant contingency to take account of the difficulty of allocating funding on a formula basis and uncertainty around the precise pattern of new journeys.
	This new funding is being made available to cover only the additional costs of the new concession. Additional concessions will still have to be funded at an authority's discretion.
	We consulted on four possible distributions of the grant. These options used data likely to reflect the main drivers of cost of the new concession (e.g. retail floor space, visitor numbers, bus patronage) in different combinations. Our proposed distribution is based on the most popular option. Travel concession authorities in the south-east will receive £25.14 million in total—an increase of 34 per cent. against what was spent in the region on concessionary travel in 2006-07. A list of the relevant local authorities and the proposed funding for each is as follows:
	
		
			2008-09 special grant allocation  (£ million) 
			 Buckinghamshire Aylesbury Vale 0.358 
			  Chiltern 0.165 
			  South Bucks 0.165 
			  Wycombe 0.363 
			  Total 1.052 
			
			 East Sussex Eastbourne 0.482 
			  Lewes 0.214 
			  Rother 0.297 
			  Wealden 0.276 
			  Total 1.269 
			
			 Hampshire Basingstoke and Deane 0.342 
			  East Hampshire 0.205 
			  Eastleigh 0.305 
			  Fareham 0.278 
			  Gosport 0.194 
			  Hart 0.142 
			  Havant 0.327 
			  New Forest 0.493 
			  Rushmoor 0.283 
			  Test Valley 0.225 
			  Winchester 0.256 
			  Total 3.048 
			
			 Kent Ashford 0.348 
			  Canterbury 0.546 
			  Dartford 0.395 
			  Dover 0.333 
			  Gravesham 0.274 
			  Hastings 0.424 
			  Maidstone 0.444 
			  Sevenoaks 0.233 
			  Shepway 0.346 
			  Swale 0.298 
			  Thanet 0.524 
			  Tonbridge and Mailing 0.251 
			  Tunbridge Wells 0.329 
			  Total 4.744 
			
			 Oxfordshire Cherwell 0.426 
			  Oxford 0.821 
			  South Oxfordshire 0.317 
			  Vale of White Horse 0.261 
			  West Oxfordshire 0.255 
			  Total 2.080 
			
			 Surrey Elmbridge 0.283 
			  Epsom and Ewell 0.194 
			  Guildford 0.352 
			  Mole Valley 0.187 
			  Reigate and Banstead 0.260 
			  Runnymede 0.162 
			  Spelthorne 0.244 
			  Surrey Heath 0.200 
			  Tandridge 0.146 
			  Waverley 0.262 
			  Woking 0.254 
			  Total 2.544 
			
			 West Sussex Adur 0.167 
			  Arun 0.403 
			  Chichester 0.359 
			  Crawley 0.326 
			  Horsham 0.251 
			  Mid Sussex 0.271 
			  Worthing 0.357 
			  Total 2.134 
			
			 Unitary Bracknell Forest 0.251 
			  Brighton and Hove 1.715 
			  Isle of Wight 0.848 
			  Medway 0.669 
			  Milton Keynes 0.743 
			  Portsmouth 0.836 
			  Reading 0.926 
			  Slough 0.356 
			  Southampton 1.059 
			  West Berkshire 0.334 
			  Windsor and Maidenhead 0.321 
			  Wokingham 0.213 
			  Total 8.271

Underground Assets

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to facilitate the production of a standard accessible electronic register of underground assets.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has provided financial support to the National Underground Assets Group (NUAG), which is working to establish an effective and efficient means of recording, storing, sharing and displaying information on underground assets. The group has representatives from industry and local authorities as well as Ordnance Survey and the Association for Geographic Information. The Government support other related initiatives such as:
	VISTA which uses GPS to generate 3-D models of the location of assets; and
	Mapping the Underworld which identifies new technology to locate assets.
	The three projects complement each other and share their conclusions to ensure compatibility of proposals.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Departmental Performance Appraisal

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many officials in his Department have been identified as lacking core skills as a result of the annual review process; and what measures are planned to ensure any such deficiencies are rectified.

David Lammy: The Department is in the process of conducting and collating skills audits. As a consequence it is too early to offer any conclusions at this stage. The Department is also in the process of defining a skills strategy which will look to establish policies and methods for enhancing skills in Department employees going forward. Again this strategy is in the development stage. The Department has also made the skills pledge, a public commitment to support all employees to develop their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, and work towards relevant, valuable qualifications to at least Level 2 (equivalent to five good GCSEs).

Departmental Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what training financed by his Department is offered to trade unions representatives in his Department.

David Lammy: No training is offered to trade unions representatives financed directly by this Department, though like all employees they do receive funding for their work and personal development training as any good employer would. All trade unions representatives receive their TU training and funding through the Union Learning Fund setup in 1998.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Arms Trade: Nigeria

Gavin Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of export credit outstanding at the end of financial year 2004-05 for Nigeria was for military goods.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 28 January 2008
	 Information on ECGD business supported prior to 1991 is not held on a basis which enables defence to be identified separately from other sectors. ECGD has however supported no defence business on Nigeria since that date.

Bankruptcy: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many businesses filed for bankruptcy in Peterborough constituency in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: It is not possible from records held centrally and in a readily available format to provide all the information requested. The following table provides the statistics which could be compiled in the time available and which most closely match those requested.
	
		
			  Business bankruptcies in Peterborough constituency 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006( 1) 
			 Traders 8 9 23 20 12 14 
			 Non-traders 36 39 47 67 108 40 
			 Missing 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Total bankruptcies 44 48 70 87 121 54 
			 (1) January to June  Notes: 1. The Insolvency Trade Classification (ITC) was used to classify trading-related bankruptcies (and company liquidations) until end September 2006. However, only the period from January to June 2006 is provided because of the way the data are held. 2. The figures above include bankruptcies filed on either the petition of the debtor (trader) or of a creditor. 3. The geographical information presented above is based on bankrupts' postcodes and is subject to an element of missing or unusable data. Nationally, this has been decreasing from around 9 per cent. in 2001 to 4 per cent. in 2006.

Company Liquidations

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many administrations and liquidations began over  (a) 10 years ago and  (b) 15 years ago have not been finalised.

Patrick McFadden: Companies House records show that the number of companies which entered into an administration or liquidation process more than 10 years ago and which are still shown as live on the register are:
	 (a) 4,921 companies where the administration or liquidation process began between 10 and fifteen years ago.
	 (b) 1,2571 companies where the administration or liquidation process began more than 15 years ago.
	In practice, it is likely that the number of insolvency processes which began more than 10 years ago and remain ongoing is significantly lower than this. It would be unusual for an individual process to continue for as long as 10 years. The implication is that, in a significant number of cases, the administrator or insolvency practitioner may not have notified Companies House that a process is complete. Companies House is considering, in discussion with the Insolvency Service, what further steps it could take to clarify how many companies fall into this category. At present, it is not possible to say what the true figure is.
	In addition to their obligation to keep the public record up to date, the relevant insolvency office holder is required to give regular updates to creditors and, where appropriate, members of the company.

Energy: Carbon Emissions

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what funding his Department has allocated for green energy technologies in each of the next five years; to which programmes; and for what purpose in each year.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 24 January 2008
	 The following funding programmes announced by my Department are expected to continue spending over part or all of the next five years:
	Bioenergy Capital Grants Scheme
	Hydrogen, Fuel Cell, and Carbon Abatement Technologies Demonstration Programme
	Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 1
	Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2
	Offshore Wind Capital Grants Scheme
	Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study
	Marine Renewables Deployment Fund
	The Department has also announced its intention to fund a Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration project.
	Expenditure is demand-led and the Department does not make specific allocations for each year. These programmes have different expected lifespans: some will complete spending within five years and some will continue beyond that period. My Department's budget for low-carbon energy technologies over the comprehensive spending review period (the three years from April 2008-March 2011) is £200 million, through the new Environmental Transformation Fund. Spend under the programmes listed will be met from this budget, as will the estimated £9 million cost for the Severn Tidal Power feasibility study whose terms of reference I announced on 22 January. My Department's budget beyond March 2011 depends on the next central Government spending review.

Energy: EU Action

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proposals were put forward by the United Kingdom for inclusion in the European Strategic Energy Technology (SET) plan being developed by the European Commission; which proposals were subsequently included in the SET plan; and what steps the United Kingdom intends to take to help remove institutional barriers to the take up of new energy technologies.

Malcolm Wicks: The United Kingdom, along with other EU member states, has been closely involved in the development of the European Strategic Energy Technology plan, and has engaged in discussions and commented and made suggestions on all aspects of the plan as it has developed over the past year. Industry participation has also been an important element of the process.
	In broad terms the United Kingdom has advocated a SET plan that should set the strategic context and direction for EU policies and initiatives relevant to the development and deployment of new low carbon energy technologies, and that will add value to national policies and programmes.
	The resulting SET plan, which is set to be adopted at the forthcoming EU Spring Council, reflects many of the issues raised by the UK in discussion. It is summarised in the Explanatory Memorandum to the 'Commission Communication: A European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan)—Towards a low-carbon future', deposited in Parliament by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on 16 December 2007.
	Later this year, the Government will launch a full consultation on what more we should do to increase renewable energy use to meet our share of the EU 2020 renewables target. This will include consideration of how to remove barriers.

Energy: Prices

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of average energy prices in  (a) England,  (b) Scotland,  (c) Northern Ireland and  (d) Wales in the latest period for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: Data on energy prices are published by BERR in Quarterly Energy prices:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/prices/index.html
	Domestic prices are available on a regional basis. Electricity prices for England and Wales are not available separately, as data are collected by public electricity supply (PES) area, and some of these areas straddle the England/Wales border. BERR does not publish average gas price data for Northern Ireland. Regional price data are not available for industrial consumers.
	For 2007, average prices for gas and electricity for domestic consumers paying by standard credit in pence per kWh were as follows:
	
		
			  Energy Price s : in pence per kWh 
			   England and Wales  Scotland  Northern Ireland  Wales 
			 Electricity 11.55 12.15 11.42 — 
			 Gas 3.07 3.04 — 2.97

Energy: Russia

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will hold discussions with the Russian government on the energy charter treaty.

Malcolm Wicks: The energy charter treaty remains the only multilateral instrument providing a rules-based framework for trade, investment protection and transit of energy products and services, backed up by legally binding dispute resolution mechanisms. HMG supports the energy charter treaty as a valuable instrument in our objective of promoting open, competitive international energy markets.
	Russia is a signatory to the energy charter treaty, and claims to apply the treaty provisionally. Russian ratification of the treaty remains our goal. Our bilateral and multilateral discussions with Russia, together with the regular meetings of energy charter treaty signatories, provide opportunities to demonstrate the continuing value of ECT ratification.

Export Credit Guarantees: Fraud

Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what procedures the Exports Credits Guarantee Department has put in place to ensure that fraudulent or unethical export contracts are identified and excluded prior to abandonment of export credit claims under the UK's debt cancellation policy.

Malcolm Wicks: In order for any debt arising in relation to an ECGD-supported export contract to be considered for forgiveness, that debt must appear on the list of debts which form the subject of a debt rescheduling agreement between the UK and the debtor country, which would, almost invariably, be entered into pursuant to arrangements agreed in the Paris Club. The debts to be included in that debt list would have to be accepted by the government of the debtor country and, during this acceptance process, it would be open to the debtor country to raise objections to the inclusion of any particular debt on the grounds that the export contract to which it relates had been procured by corruption or is otherwise ineligible for inclusion in the debt list.
	In addition, in 2000, ECGD first published new Business Principles and anti-corruption procedures and these (as updated from time to time) are applied to all new applications for ECGD support.

Natural Gas: Housing

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many homes in  (a) the UK,  (b) England,  (c) the East Midlands and  (d) North West Leicestershire were not connected to the natural gas supply at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what the average number was by parliamentary constituency in (i) the UK and (ii) England.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 28 January 2008
	 As part of its regional and local energy statistics publication programme, BERR has published the number of domestic gas meter points in each region and local authority in Great Britain. The following estimates compare the number of domestic meter points with the estimates of the number of households in each area for 2004. Corresponding data are not available for the UK, as BERR do not have information relating to Northern Ireland.
	
		
			   Number 
			 England 2,509,000 
			 East Midlands 202,000 
			 North West Leicestershire 5,000 
			  Sources: Gas sales and numbers of customers by region and area: 2004, BERR Mid-year household estimates for England: 2004, CLG 
		
	
	Figures for North West Leicestershire relate to the local authority rather than the parliamentary constituency. BERR do not have data at parliamentary constituency level.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1632W, on nuclear power stations: construction, how much funding will be provided to enable hard to reach groups to participate in a public inquiry into an application to build a nuclear power plant; what criteria will be used to assess eligibility for such funding; and what is the maximum value of funding which will be available for any individual inquiry.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government fund Planning Aid which provides independent, free advice to hard to reach groups in order to help them to participate in the planning system. For 2007-08 the grant is 31.7 million. The Planning White Paper referred to increasing grant funding for bodies such as Planning Aid to ensure that members of the public get the advice and support they need to get involved in planning inquiries on major infrastructure projects. No decisions have been taken on future levels of funding for Planning Aid.

Nuclear Power: Carbon Emissions

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the analysis of the potential contribution of nuclear power for reducing carbon emissions, set out at paragraphs A5-A12 of Annex A to the White Paper on Nuclear Power, Cm 7296, includes an assessment of carbon emissions accruing from  (a) uranium mining, milling, processing and environment,  (b) the construction and decommissioning of nuclear power plants and  (c) the management of radioactive waste arising from nuclear power plants.

Malcolm Wicks: The analysis of the potential contribution of nuclear power to reducing carbon emissions in annex A of the White Paper on Nuclear Power covers emissions arising at the point of generation. The issue of the full life cycle emissions from different electricity generation technologies is covered in the answer to question two from the consultation on nuclear power and is summarised in paragraphs 2.10 to 2.25 of the White Paper. The estimated full life cycle emissions from a nuclear power station (7-22gCO2/kWh) are equivalent to between 2 per cent. and 6 per cent. of those of a gas-fired station for every unit of electricity generated. These include all emissions from uranium processing, through construction and decommissioning to the management of radioactive waste.
	The cost-benefit analysis of nuclear power published with the 2007 Energy White Paper included the full costs of nuclear, including those for waste and decommissioning.

Post Offices

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will place in the Library a list of the addresses of all post offices in the UK.

Patrick McFadden: Post Office Ltd. annually places in the Libraries of the House a list of all post offices in the network by parliamentary constituency. The list gives post office name, post town and post code.

Postal Offices: Rural Areas

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what minimum number of rural post office branches would be required to ensure that 95 per cent. of the total rural population lived within three miles of a post office branch; and how many post office branches classified as rural there were at the end of financial year 2006-07;
	(2)  what minimum number of post office branches would be required to ensure that 99 per cent. of the UK population is within three miles and 90 per cent. of the population are within one mile of their nearest post office outlet.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 28 January 2008
	 This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions there have been for the offence of persistently selling alcohol to children under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006; and how many licensees have lost their licences as a result.

Vernon Coaker: The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 came into force on 6 April 2007, statistics on court proceedings and cautions for 2007 will be published in the autumn of 2008.

Community Development

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect that the implementation of the Respect Agenda has on West Chelmsford constituency.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 25 January 2008
	No assessment has been made of the effect that the implementation of the Respect Agenda has had in West Chelmsford. However, the Local Government User Satisfaction Survey 2006-07 showed that between 2003 and 2006 the number of people perceiving antisocial behaviour as a very or fairly big problem in Chelmsford fell from 35 per cent. to 15 per cent.
	Through the Respect programme, we introduced new approaches nationally to tackle the root causes of antisocial behaviour. Key commitments in the Government's Respect action plan have now been met and mainstreamed locally.
	We are committed to building on the excellent progress made across the country, working with local authorities and the police to tackle the problems on the ground but also to deal with the root causes through early intervention and prevention.
	Three independent reports on the Government's strategy to tackle antisocial behaviour show that it is working: The Home Affairs Select Committee Report, the National Audit Office report (2006) and Public Accounts Committee Report (2007). Public perceptions of antisocial behaviour being a problem locally are down as shown in the British Crime Survey and the Local Government User Satisfaction Survey 2006-07.

Crime: Statistics

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to provide local crime statistics.

Vernon Coaker: The Government have committed to making consistent, monthly, local information on crime available throughout the country. This will include data on crime and community safety issues but will also comprise other kinds of information of use to the local community, such as information about what local agencies are doing to tackle their community safety priorities.
	The Home Office is working with ACPO, the APA and other stakeholders to identify how best this can be achieved.

Cybercrime

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she expects to implement the additional protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime on the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems.

Vernon Coaker: The Government believe that our current law effectively deals with incitement to racial hatred, and strikes the right balance between the need to protect individuals from violence and hatred and the need to protect freedom of expression. We will therefore not ratify the protocol as it does not allow us to maintain our criminal threshold for this sort of offence.

E-mail: Fraud

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the banking industry on phishing e-mails; what steps her Department is taking to prevent phishing; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Secretary has not had any discussions with the banking industry on this matter.
	The Government have a dialogue with the banking and internet industries through our joint initiative, GetSafeOnline. This has the purpose of providing information to the public on protecting themselves against e-crime, such as phishing.
	The UK banking industry also helps online banking customers stay safe while online through BankSafeOnline. org. Customers can also report scams through this site.

Firearms: Licensing

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to review firearm and air rifle licensing regulations.

Vernon Coaker: Controls on firearms are kept under close scrutiny and changes made where necessary to secure public safety. The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 and the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 both included measures which further regulate the use and possession of air weapons and realistic imitation firearms. As recently announced, I will be consulting shortly on the introduction of stricter controls on deactivated firearms.

Immigration

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women discovered by police and immigration services as part of Operation Rampart were in the UK as illegal immigrants; and how many had been trafficked into the United Kingdom.

Vernon Coaker: 48 women found were discovered to be in the country unlawfully.
	Of the women discovered in this operation one had been identified as a victim of trafficking.

Immigration

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) arrested,  (b) charged and  (c) convicted of immigration offences as part of Operation Rampart.

Vernon Coaker: Operation Rampart led to the arrest of 42 people on suspicion of being in the United Kingdom unlawfully. Of these 37 people were removed from the country. Three people were also charged with document offences.
	In a related operation three people were arrested and prosecuted for passport offences and on conviction were also removed from the UK.

Immobilisation of Vehicles

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 306-7W, on immobilisations of vehicles, if her Department will strengthen regulation of wheel clampers on private land in 2008; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: h olding answer 5 December 2007
	 The Home Office is continuing to consider reviewing policy on the regulation of vehicle immobilisers. We have not reached any conclusion however, and therefore no decision has been made at this point about whether a review will proceed, or if it does, the likely timescale.

Macfarlan Smith

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 213-15W on Macfarlan Smith, when the analysis of Macfarlan Smith's position began; and when is it expected to be completed.

Vernon Coaker: Work commenced on 5 October 2006 and continues. Completion depends upon finalising the data collection and assessment.

Offensive Weapons

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether her Department has conducted consultations on restricting or controlling the sale of knives; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what consideration she has given to licensing the sale of domestic and non-domestic knives; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what restrictions are in place on the sale of  (a) domestic and  (b) non-domestic knives; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: There are a number of restrictions and controls on the sale of knives and other bladed instruments. The Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959 bans the sale of flick knives and gravity knives. The Criminal Justice Act 1988 prohibits the manufacture, sale and hire of 17 weapons specified in the Criminal Justice Act (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988 including butterfly knives. The Government consulted in March 2007 on adding samurai swords and other offensive weapons to the Order, and has announced its intention to proceed with a ban on the sale of samurai swords, subject to exemptions for collectors and reputable martial arts groups, by April 2008.
	While the Government do not currently have plans to license the sale of knives we have, as part of our commitment to tackling knife crime, made it an offence to sell a knife to a person aged under 18 in the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, which is an increase from the previous age of 16. The Knives Act 1997 also makes it an offence to market knives as suitable for combat, or in ways likely to stimulate or encourage violent behaviour.

Proceeds of Crime

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been confiscated as proceeds of drug crime in each police force area in each of the last 12 months.

Vernon Coaker: The total value of confiscation orders and cash forfeiture orders made in each police force in England and Wales from January to December 2007 against criminals involved in drug crime is set out in the following table. The enforcement of confiscation orders is primarily the responsibility of the HM Courts Service.
	
		
			  Year: 2007 
			   
			  Police force  January  February  March  April  May  June 
			 Avon and Somerset Constabulary 1,185.00 5,902.51 63,889.81 4,480.20 92,549.07 13,974.51 
			 Bedfordshire Police 25,925.37 3,493.29 2,130.00 5,120.00 6,980.75 1,158.61 
			 Cambridgeshire Constabulary 894.54 19,138.36 5,934.25 14,802.50 554.37 2,827.29 
			 Cheshire Constabulary 0.00 42,588.73 94,527.25 8,514.75 0.00 6,247.40 
			 City of London Police 0.00 0.00 29,944.18 22,243.83 0.00 0.00 
			 Cleveland Police 4,937.31 30,280.54 101,913.00 8,161.46 3,314.00 1,260.00 
			 Cumbria Constabulary 14,940.00 9,213.37 3,579.24 40,000.00 7,546.94 10,170.74 
			 Derbyshire Constabulary 1,261.53 285,182.83 32,973.81 55,902.56 12,568.63 13,049.00 
			 Devon and Cornwall Constabulary 1,400.00 5,600.56 11,444.00 0.00 12,961.50 6,139.37 
			 Dorset Police 1,791,737.00 43,133.30 12,560.00 788,657.00 2,680.00 5,679.00 
			 Durham Constabulary 4,875.00 1,800.00 4,830.00 414,168.49 1,100.00 1,240.43 
			 Dyfed-Powys Police 21,506.30 7,321.65 24,442.03 13.89 2,343.80 445,671.05 
			 Essex Police 19,019.76 19,052.00 44,818.14 21,204.57 36,797.27 35,464.31 
			 Gloucestershire Constabulary 90,295.00 14,764.43 9,705.00 16,803.20 42,665.55 2,360.00 
			 Greater Manchester Police 30,779.43 47,318.49 15,146.32 292,957.86 518,271.76 141,654.04 
			 Gwent Police 0.00 3,501.92 12,288.33 76,633.04 384,336.93 1,170.00 
			 Hampshire Constabulary 8,000.25 56,425.00 14,305.55 69,499.33 34,865.00 121,859.63 
			 Hertfordshire Constabulary 88,365.00 0.00 91,004.75 168,359.87 155,980.00 4,064.71 
			 Humberside Police 56,232.04 0.00 3,000.00 1,180.00 6,657.16 23,719.91 
			 Kent Police 1,978.28 103,561.45 459.44 97,502.06 14,786.60 62,332.82 
			 Lancashire Constabulary 25,079.49 498,383.00 2,786.00 12,791.37 61,159.53 85,564.06 
			 Leicestershire Constabulary 736.00 9,327.91 18,179.68 31,953.87 9,884.17 23,460.55 
			 Lincolnshire Police 4,104.00 2,010.00 0.00 15,000.00 3,996.10 50.00 
			 Merseyside Police 862,908.75 73,878.43 108,514.98 556,462.21 113,821.25 41,965.30 
			 Metropolitan Police Service 213,468.48 120,328.31 420,992.70 472,352.67 345,291.84 297,026.85 
			 Norfolk Constabulary 4,912.47 8,243.90 350.00 0.00 279,880.23 55,029.68 
			 North Wales Police 0.00 531.59 25,650.41 0.00 47,621.14 9,885.50 
			 North Yorkshire Police 1,202.25 45,199.51 1,140.00 20,315.00 12,518.23 6,963.02 
			 Northamptonshire Police 6,350.00 21,448.99 13,036.41 11,334.86 167,934.21 17,438.29 
			 Northumbria Police 23,592.52 8,747.51 51,619.97 7,335.00 0.00 326,921.28 
			 Nottinghamshire Police 20,928.68 37,464.85 129,850.44 4,649.86 3,704.97 10,136.54 
			 South Wales Police 11,202.63 82,861.44 53,817.62 603.54 22,385.10 10,721.10 
			 South Yorkshire Police 128,393.42 3,937.19 13,003.97 17,409.82 22,233.76 46,580.68 
			 Staffordshire Police 32,133.50 11,497.72 68,019.07 21,072.96 19,651.43 10,379.38 
			 Suffolk Constabulary 29,017.77 32,141.68 4,693.00 5,669.40 121,852.79 19,262.05 
			 Surrey Police 1,100.00 36,280.00 0.00 3,040.00 1,650.01 1,555.86 
			 Sussex Police 4,163.11 233,245.35 9,206.27 29,061.69 28,125.00 7,571.69 
			 Thames Valley Police 23,161.50 23,039.49 15,806.32 19,500.47 430,080.30 87,868.79 
			 Warwickshire Police 150.00 0.00 4,571.16 1,000.00 111,358.88 3,805.00 
			 West Mercia Constabulary 19,474.45 905.00 67,951.44 24,376.55 836.59 10,191.62 
			 West Midlands Police 23,020.70 51,938.70 73,649.34 27,011.09 548,649.87 40,750.18 
			 West Yorkshire Police 37,993.28 132,372.68 64,004.35 30,201.05 48,150.21 46,270.42 
			 Wiltshire Constabulary 3,574.37 9,187.00 81,608.88 1,092.01 75,184.65 19,195.43 
		
	
	
		
			   
			  Police force  July  August  September  October  November  December 
			 Avon and Somerset Constabulary 139,951.64 76,715.45 102,202.77 50,630.76 4,356.57 20,900.74 
			 Bedfordshire Police 1,126.19 0.00 1,093.60 65,724.16 57,993.66 500,910.13 
			 Cambridgeshire Constabulary 4,813.43 43,634.90 18,920.09 14,368.76 79,835.80 36,939.92 
			 Cheshire Constabulary 0.00 5,250.00 9,347.00 4,209.91 3,192.20 2,727.00 
			 City of London Police 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Cleveland Police 5,716.36 11,022.54 2,054.90 4,710.00 21,101.45 7,252.96 
			 Cumbria Constabulary 8,132.34 48,528.29 4,149.80 4,794.28 1,640.00 13,957.19 
			 Derbyshire Constabulary 11,828.01 4,682.76 285.33 63,335.12 1,557.23 942.52 
			 Devon and Cornwall Constabulary 13,110.20 12,934.18 58,475.15 13,524.00 6,025.00 4,707.25 
			 Dorset Police 69,744.00 5,562.71 2,800.00 114,745.73 3,656.51 4,925.00 
			 Durham Constabulary 5,823.01 8,158.00 5,880.65 164.02 4,337.51 10,954.50 
			 Dyfed-Powys Police 10,157.25 801.22 18,335.10 560.54 219.71 446.00 
			 Essex Police 1,800.00 5,865.00 20,887.57 10,972.89 9,790.00 8,418.55 
			 Gloucestershire Constabulary 7,709.57 4,287.81 710.09 9,358.00 25,053.13 1,674.80 
			 Greater Manchester Police 101,540.15 57,741.46 33,483.56 119,001.44 171,882.46 99,944.08 
			 Gwent Police 4,145.11 21,978.29 43,373.81 112,616.26 0.00 42,077.36 
			 Hampshire Constabulary 5,737.56 118,741.99 159,707.00 53,761.00 15,644.52 13,253.17 
			 Hertfordshire Constabulary 217,201.35 67,945.54 5,101.00 28,090.56 10,528.83 3,060.00 
			 Humberside Police 39,600.00 78,589.35 466,673.04 19,069.74 51,186.19 0.00 
			 Kent Police 164,865.31 499,610.00 0.00 903,893.08 9,028.00 2,955.00 
			 Lancashire Constabulary 6,178.55 45,621.43 117,330.52 28,239.44 67,681.01 15,405.92 
			 Leicestershire Constabulary 9,840.79 9,244.98 16,326.89 14,144.51 18,898.42 12,445.37 
			 Lincolnshire Police 2,400.00 17,248.86 0.00 7,156.30 13,894.00 1,025.00 
			 Merseyside Police 60,809.70 224,288.72 371,160.72 244,948.67 171,469.93 304,140.24 
			 Metropolitan Police Service 161,986.74 285,234.49 169,676.87 792,029.98 533,093.45 1,104,138.14 
			 Norfolk Constabulary 40,486.99 785,976.84 5,510.00 8,590.55 23,106.16 143,075.29 
			 North Wales Police 12,792.75 2,324.90 20,043.60 2,695.00 5,574.50 16,864.00 
			 North Yorkshire Police 40,167.83 6,955.06 5,767.08 0.00 14,193.86 24,120.00 
			 Northamptonshire Police 33,050.98 2,625.98 670.00 9,258.32 6,423.95 0.00 
			 Northumbria Police 340,980.94 5,199.77 16,570.36 8,380.54 3,692.37 6,320.00 
			 Nottinghamshire Police 2,256.00 55,851.45 180,531.59 11,190.46 114,904.99 9,626.52 
			 South Wales Police 43,441.05 14,365.62 14,628.99 24,954.02 16,671.07 24,853.34 
			 South Yorkshire Police 336,500.94 22,770.29 84,275.00 37,296.84 16,732.93 8,664.54 
			 Staffordshire Police 54,313.35 44,725.88 5,160.50 1,317,246.29 25,952.88 6,945.00 
			 Suffolk Constabulary 3,292.59 1,996.95 25,530.88 7,101.94 0.00 2,220.00 
			 Surrey Police 3,240.00 323,896.95 0.00 7,100.00 8,059.34 6,391.48 
			 Sussex Police 35,076.29 40,496.65 20,629.33 5,485.00 52,374.96 149,939.53 
			 Thames Valley Police 45,107.06 37,700.26 17,978.34 42,166.82 19,706.01 84,125.60 
			 Warwickshire Police 2,427.87 7,115.00 86,254.81 10,657.69 4,524.23 4,227.10 
			 West Mercia Constabulary 1,415.39 16,360.00 2,229.72 27,040.00 11,215.00 32,610.59 
			 West Midlands Police 17,326.37 72,620.10 45,602.58 91,192.82 66,700.89 761,322.05 
			 West Yorkshire Police 65,838.75 22,343.73 100,804.96 105,113.51 55,588.44 214,166.83 
			 Wiltshire Constabulary 4,800.54 0.00 8,805.00 0.00 461.00 1,219.09

Proceeds of Crime: Durham Police Force

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was received by the Durham police force from confiscation of the proceeds of crime in 2007; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: A total of 115,501 of recovered criminal proceeds was paid to Durham police authority in 2007 under the asset recovery incentive scheme. A further payment to reward the force's performance in the final quarter of 2007 will be made shortly

Road Traffic Offences: Fraud

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were successfully prosecuted for  (a) illegally clamping vehicles on private land and  (b) fraudulently issuing penalty tickets in each year since 2004.

Vernon Coaker: There is no specific offence of illegally clamping a vehicle on private land or fraudulently issuing a penalty ticket for parking on private land. The Private Security Industry Act 2001 provides for the regulation of vehicle immobilisers carrying out licensable activities and for a range of offences which include using an unlicensed wheel-clamper. The most common offence prosecuted under the Act is conduct prohibited without a licence. This would include carrying out, without a licence, not only wheel-clamping and related activities but also the other types of activity which are licensable under the 2001 Act, such as manned guarding and door supervision. Numbers of prosecutions and convictions for 2004 to 2006 for these offences and for the offence of carrying out conduct prohibited without a licence are shown in the following table. The data for the second and third categories do not break down further the licensable activities to which the prosecutions are related.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts of offences under the 2001 Private Security Industry Act 2001, in England and Wales, 2004 to 2006( 1, 2) 
			2004  2005  2006 
			  Offence  Statute  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 Offence of using unlicensed security operatives Private Security Industry Act 2001 S.5(1)(4)   3  13 8 
			 Offence of using unlicensed wheel clampers operative Private Security Industry Act 2001 S.6(1)(4)   2
			 Right to use approved status Private Security Industry Act 2001 S.16(2)(a)(4) 5 4 1 1 1 1 
			 Imposition of requirements for approval Private Security Industry Act 2001 S.17(2)(a)(4) 6 6 159 65 141 84 
			 Conduct prohibited without a licence Private Security Industry Act 2001 S.3(1)(6)   1  1  
			 Powers of entry and inspection Private Security Industry Act 2001 S.19(5)(a)(b)  (c)  (7)   
			 False information Private Security Industry Act 2001 S.22(1)(b)(2)   
			 Total  11 10 168 66 156 93 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Security Industry Authority: Scotland

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those issued security industry authority licences who were not entitled to work in the UK were employed in Scotland in the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not available.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bangladesh: Elections

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what practical support he is offering to Bangladesh ahead of the elections scheduled for December 2008.

Kim Howells: Credible elections in 2008 that can sustain democracy in the longer term are essential for Bangladesh. The UK is playing its part and offering practical support. Through the Department for International Development (DFID), the UK has contributed 10 million to the voter registration programme in Bangladesh and we have seen encouraging progress to date. A further 1.1 million from DFID is being spent, through the Asia Foundation, on the promotion of accountability, issues-based campaigning and non-violence. This is in addition to our funding of a country-wide scheme to motivate vulnerable groups to register to vote.

Bangladesh: Elections

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress of the interim government of Bangladesh on holding elections in Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We support a return to healthy and sustainable democracy in Bangladesh, through the creation of the conditions for credible elections. When he met the Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK (Mr. Shafi U Ahmed) on 22 January, my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, welcomed the Caretaker government's assurance that elections will take place in 2008 and underlined the need to adhere to the election roadmap. We also welcome remarks by the Chief Adviser and the Chief Election Commissioner that those elections could be brought forward should voter list and electoral reforms be completed earlier than planned.

Bangladesh: Human Rights

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: There are legitimate concerns about human rights in Bangladesh. The caretaker Government's announcement of a Human Rights Commission is a step in the right direction. We welcome the separation of the judiciary and the Executive. We continue to urge the Government, army and law enforcement agencies to act impartially and proportionately, with respect for public safety, human rights, media freedoms and the rule of law.

Bangladesh: Human Rights

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the imprisonment of three professors at Dhaka University in Bangladesh for two years for taking part in protests which contravened the emergency rule of the government of Bangladesh; and what assessment he has made of such reports.

Kim Howells: On 22 January 2008, three teachers from Dhaka university were sentenced to two years' imprisonment for taking part in protests that contravened the emergency rules. On the same day, the teachers were released following a Presidential decree of clemency. Throughout our engagement with the caretaker Government, we have consistently emphasised that, in creating the conditions for credible elections and sustainable democracy, it is necessary to retain respect for individuals' rights and democratic and judicial processes.

Bangladesh: Human Rights

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Bangladesh on the detention without trial of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Mr. Moudud Ahmed; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made any representations to the Government of Bangladesh on this case. Mr. Ahmed is currently in detention pending a procedural court ruling in relation to the charges laid against him on 16 September 2007 by the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh.
	We welcome the recent separation of the Judiciary and the Executive in Bangladesh, and continue to urge the Caretaker government, the army and law enforcement agencies to act impartially and proportionately, with respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Bangladesh: Politics and Government

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress of the interim Government of Bangladesh towards lifting restrictions on political activities in Bangladesh.

Kim Howells: We support the restoration of full democratic processes in Bangladesh at the earliest opportunity. We believe that the lifting of the ban on indoor political activities was an important step towards this. We would like to see a dialogue between the caretaker Government and the political parties that includes discussion of further moves towards lifting the remaining restrictions.

Cyprus

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place with the Turkish government on removing Turkish troops from Cyprus.

Jim Murphy: The issue of Turkish troops in Cyprus is raised during regular bilateral discussions with the Turkish government, where we encourage Turkey to work hard towards the normalisation of relations with Cyprus.
	We believe that a reduction in the number of Turkish troops in northern Cyprus would build trust on the island, and inject momentum into the UN's efforts to make decisive progress towards a comprehensive settlement in 2008. The wider issue of security in Cyprus is one of a number of crucial issues that can only be fully solved through a comprehensive settlement.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the progress of the North Kivu Peace Conference convened by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The conference resulted in commitments on a cease-fire in the region, the creation of demilitarised zones, an amnesty for combatants who have committed acts of insurrection, the liberation of political prisoners, the lifting of road blocks and the return of refugees. This was possible because of the constructive and co-operative approach taken by the groups represented there. All parties will need to continue to work together to ensure lasting peace.
	The UK firmly supports the outcome of the conference as a constructive step towards stability in the region.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Peace Negotiations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the merits of the proposed ceasefire in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with particular reference to the position of General Nkunda.

Meg Munn: I congratulate the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and all the participants on the successful outcome of the Conference on Peace, Security and Development in the provinces of north Kivu and south Kivu. The agreements reached offer a good opportunity for peace and stability in the region. All parties will need to continue to work together to secure a lasting peace.
	I strongly support a political solution to issues in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The constructive approach of the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo towards General Nkunda has allowed his organisation, the National Congress for People's Defence, to contribute to efforts towards such a solution.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1609W, on departmental internet, what proportion of  (a) visits and  (b) page views to the blogging platform came from computers with Government IP addresses.

Meg Munn: Collating the information requested by the hon. Member would incur disproportionate cost. Even then it would not be possible to guarantee a complete answer because lists of IP addresses for Government Departments are not readily available.

Diplomatic Service: EU Nationals

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1610W, on the diplomatic service: EU nationals, how many times non-UK EU citizens have received services from British embassies under Article 20 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community, broken down by  (a) year and  (b) nationality since 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: From 2003 onwards, as part of our annual survey of consular operations overseas, we have collected information from overseas posts on the number of unrepresented EU nationals who have received assistance from consular services (not including general inquiries and requests for advice). We do not break this information down by nationality.
	We are unable to provide figures before 2003, as between 1996 and 2002 figures for EU and Commonwealth nationals were collated together.
	The following table shows the number of these assistance cases where support was given to EU nationals with comparative figures against UK missions globally.
	
		
			   EU  c ases  Total cases 
			 2003-04 147 24,761 
			 2004-05 366 26,691 
			 2005-06 120 27,772 
			 2006-07 98 34,874

EU Reform: Treaties

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether every EU member state is required to ratify the treaty of Lisbon for it to come into force; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The Lisbon treaty shall enter into force only after being ratified by all 27 member states in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements, and not before 1 January 2009.

India: Christianity

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of India on the treatment of Christians in Orissa; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: While such incidents remain an internal matter for the Indian government, we continue to seek out opportunities to raise UK human rights concerns in India, including incidents of religious intolerance. We urge the Indian authorities to uphold the right to freedom of religion and bring to justice those responsible for attacks against people on account of their religion.

India: UN Security Council

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking at the United Nations to support the initiative announced by the Prime Minister on 21 January to include India as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Kim Howells: The UK is a long-standing supporter of India's candidacy for permanent membership of the UN Security Council. We also support Brazilian, German, Japanese and African permanent representation.
	The eventual size and form of an enlarged Security Council requires agreement from the UN membership, as set out in the charter of the UN. The UK has consistently championed the need for a reformed Council to represent emerging powers in the modern world. The UK continues to engage actively in debate over Security Council reform both in New York and with UN partners world-wide, and we have voiced our support for initiatives by the President of the General Assembly to drive forward the reform process.

Iran: Oppression

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Iranian Government on the unlawful imprisonment of three Baha'is at the Iranian Ministry of Information on 19 November 2007.

Kim Howells: We remain concerned about the treatment of religious minorities in Iran, including Baha'is. The EU presidency raised our concerns over the treatment of the Baha'i minority in Iran during a meeting with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 22 January, and called for the release of the three individuals imprisoned at the Ministry of Information. In addition, the UN General Assembly Resolution on human rights in Iran, adopted in December 2007 and co-sponsored by all EU member states, expressed very serious concern over the treatment of Baha'is.
	We will continue to monitor the situation closely and raise our concerns about the treatment of the Baha'is with the Iranian authorities, both bilaterally and through the EU.

Iraq: Weapons

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the Williams draft of his Department's dossier on Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Kim Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently considering the Information Tribunal's judgment in this case and the legal options available to it. It would therefore not be appropriate to place a copy in the Library of the House at this stage. If, and when, the document is released a copy will be made available for the Library.

Iraq: Weapons

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether the Government have intelligence that Iraq sought to procure uranium from Niger that it still believes to be accurate and that was unknown to the US at the time that the US expressed reservations on the Government's September 2002 Iraq dossier, further to paragraph 93 of the Intelligence and Security Committee Report, Cm 5972, of September 2003;
	(2)  whether both the Government's June 2002 and September 2002 sources of intelligence that Iraq sought to purchase uranium from Africa, referred to in paragraph 89 of the Intelligence and Security Committee Report, Cm 5972, of September 2003, were either passed to or discussed with the International Atomic Energy Agency the information they had on that issue.

Kim Howells: It is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on intelligence matters.

Jordan: Animal Welfare

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet the Jordanian Ambassador to discuss improving equestrian welfare at Petra in Jordan.

Kim Howells: While my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to raise this specific issue with the Jordanian Ambassador, officials will discuss this matter with the Jordanian authorities.

Kenya: Politics and Government

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government formally recognise the government of President Kibaki in Kenya.

Meg Munn: The Government recognise states, not Governments. However, we share the concerns of the international community over the conduct of the presidential election. Concerns were highlighted in independent Election Observer Mission reports, including those from the Commonwealth, the East African community, domestic observers, as well as in the initial findings of the European Union's mission.
	Given that none of the independent international observers to the elections believe the tallying met international standards it is difficult to have any confidence in the announced result. Against that background, we are pressing for negotiations between the two sides to ensure agreement on a government that can enjoy Kenyan and international confidence.

Lebanon: Politics and Government

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects on the security situation in Lebanon of the imminent expiry of the deadline to agree a new President by 24 November; and what diplomatic support the UK is providing to the process.

David Miliband: The security situation in Lebanon remains volatile and precarious, with tensions running high over the election of a new President. Since December 2007 there have been three bomb attacks in Beirut, two of which have killed senior members of the Lebanese army and security forces as well as bystanders. On 27 January 2008 serious civil disturbances killed seven people in Beirut.
	The UK continues to support efforts by the international community to resolve the crisis. Bilaterally, my hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East (Dr Howells) visited Beirut in December 2007 to highlight to all sides the need for compromise. Our ambassador in Beirut continues to be active on the ground, encouraging all sides to come to an agreement. I refer the right hon. Member to the detailed statement my hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East made to the House on the current situation in Lebanon during the end of day adjournment debate on 28 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 141-46.

Serbia: EU External Relations

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to support the signature of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia at the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council on 28 to 29 January; whether his support for the signature of this agreement is contingent on Serbia meeting its obligations to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 28 January 2008
	The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) conclusions of June 2007 recalled that the pace and conclusion of the negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) would depend on Serbia's full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
	This Government and the EU are committed to signing a SAA as soon as the necessary steps have been finalised. We remain convinced of the benefits that the SAA will bring to both sides and of the positive effects this will have for the region. With a view to achieving this, the EU has agreed to set up a task force to examine ways of delivering rapid progress. The work of the task force started on 28 January 2008, with a view to formulating recommendations to Serbia and the Council of the EU as quickly as possible.
	The GAERC of 28 January 2008 agreed to invite Serbia to sign an interim Political Agreement on co-operation between the EU and Serbia, providing a framework for making progress on political dialogue, free trade, visa liberalisation, and education co-operation, to be signed on 7 February.
	Serbia has a crucial role to play in the Western Balkans, both for ensuring stability and as a motor for the economic development and prosperity of the region. The EU expressed its commitment to deepen its relationship with Serbia, which draws on a rich and diverse range of cultural, historic, economic and people to people ties.

Somalia: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Contact Group counterparts on the situation in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The International Contact Group for Somalia most recently met at senior official level in Rome on 10 September 2007. The next Contact Group meeting is due to be hosted by the African Union in Addis Ababa, although a date has yet to be set. The Government continue to be in close contact with our key Contact Group partners, for example my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown's meeting with UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ould Abdalla in London on 7 December 2007.

Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK has been invited to observe the forthcoming second Sudan People's Liberation Movement convention in Juba.

Meg Munn: The UK has not been invited to observe the Sudan People's Liberation Movement convention in Juba. We understand that it will be held in April and no formal invitations have so far been issued. We have been invited to attend the opening and closing ceremonies of previous party conventions.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the time frame for the full deployment of the joint UN-AU hybrid force for Darfur.

Meg Munn: The joint UN-African Union hybrid force for Darfur assumed authority from the African Union mission in Sudan on 31 December 2007. At the time of transfer of authority, the total strength of the mission was approximately 9,800. The UN-African Union hybrid force for Darfur will increase in strength and capability throughout 2008. The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations is overseeing the on-going deployment in conjunction with the African Union. We are working closely with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations to ensure the joint UN-African Union hybrid force for Darfur becomes fully established as quickly as possible.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to convene a meeting to focus on generating the requisite units for the joint UN-AU hybrid force for Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The African Union-UN hybrid mission in Darfur is being generated by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations continues to meet with potential contributing countries and has received pledges for most of the requisite units for the African Union-UN hybrid mission in Darfur. However, shortfalls remain, including in helicopters and ground transportation. In support of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations we convened a meeting of a number of countries in New York on 16 January to discuss generating helicopter units for the African Union-UN hybrid mission in Darfur. A follow-up meeting will take place in the coming weeks. We are also investigating the possibility of further meetings with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and partners to discuss other support to the African Union-UN hybrid mission in Darfur.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment has been made of the security situation in Western Darfur and the impact it may have on the deployment of the UN-AU hybrid force to the region.

Meg Munn: There has been a deterioration in security in West Darfur since the end of November 2007: there have been cross-border incursions by Chadian government forces pursuing Chadian rebels and clashes between rebels from the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudanese armed forces.
	Elements of the UN-African Union hybrid force are already deployed in West Darfur. An attack on a UN-African Union hybrid force convoy by the Sudanese armed forces on 7 January in West Darfurwhich Sudanese authorities claim was a mistakewas condemned by the UN Security Council. We are pressing all partiesthe Government of Sudan, Government of Chad, and rebel groupsto exercise restraint, and we are supporting the Department of Peacekeeping Operation's efforts towards the prompt establishment of an effective UN-African Union hybrid force precisely to improve security in the region.

Tibet: Human Rights

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the remit is of the delegation to Tibet as part of the UK-China Human Rights dialogue; what rank or grading each member of the delegation has; who is leading the delegation; and what meetings they plan to have with Tibetans which are unsupervised and unarranged by the Chinese authorities.

Meg Munn: The Director Asia Pacific at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is leading the UK delegation to the dialogue in Beijing and on the field trip to Tibet, as part of the UK-China Human Rights dialogue. The delegation includes 10 people, ranging from heads of department down to administrative support officers. It will include representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Metropolitan Police Service, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Welsh Assembly government, as well as an independent academic expert. There will be no unofficial meetings during the field trip to Tibet.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his South African counterpart on the current status of South African mediation efforts between the government and opposition parties in Zimbabwe through the South African Development Community initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: My noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Amos, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, discussed this issue with President Mbeki in the margins of the EU-African Union Summit in Lisbon in December 2007. Our high commission in Pretoria also keeps abreast of progress through its regular contacts with the South African administration.
	We continue to support President Mbeki's mediation efforts. The President visited Harare on 17-18 January for further talks with President Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change. However, there appears to have been no breakthrough and we are increasingly less optimistic about the outcome.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Business: Non-domestic Rates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles), of 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 536W, on business: non-domestic rates, what multiplier is levied in each business improvement district that is in operation.

John Healey: For 2007-08, the national non-domestic multiplier is 44.4p and the small business multiplier is 44.1p. These apply in all areas in England, irrespective of whether a business improvement district is in operation. It is for those involved in BIDs to agree on the amount of BID levies and how they should be calculated.

Compost: Non-Domestic Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent changes the Valuation Office Agency has made to its practices employed in valuing composting facilities for business rate purposes; what guidance the Agency has produced on such practices; and under what circumstances such facilities are eligible for an agricultural rating exemption.

John Healey: The Valuation Office Agency has recently issued advice to its valuation officers on the approach to valuing those composting facilities that are rateable. This advice is publicly accessible on the VOA website in Rating Manual volume 5 section 1119.
	Where composting is carried out on a farm using material solely produced on that farm, the site will be exempt because it forms part of normal agricultural process.
	Where composting material is brought on to a site and processed for compost, this will not fall within the exemption for agriculture. Such composting operations will often have contracts for processing waste with local authorities.
	The valuation methodology has not changed and remains a rental method, estimating the annual value of the land and buildings occupied for non-agricultural use.
	Valuation officers have a duty to maintain rating lists and will include non-exempt, non-agricultural commercial composting sites. These are often (though not always) found on otherwise exempt agricultural properties. When included in a rating list, local authorities have a duty to collect the rates due.

Council Housing: Sales

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what capital receipts from sale of council housing were in each year since 1997 in each year, broken down by region.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 22 January 2008
	 The following table provides information on the regional totals of capital receipts from the sale of housing fixed assets as reported by local authorities over the last 10 years.
	
		
			  Sale of fixed assets: Housing: England 
			   million 
			   North East  North West  Yorkshire and the Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands  East of England  London  South East  South West  Total England 
			 1997-98 64 129 82 73 116 142 334 235 132 1,305 
			 1998-99 49 109 77 111 203 132 306 229 297 1,514 
			 1999-2000 96 218 101 172 243 282 466 366 190 2,134 
			 2000-01 235 203 141 130 250 205 596 387 173 2,320 
			 2001-02 66 137 147 190 244 370 603 250 115 2,121 
			 2002-03 173 392 548 239 306 386 888 282 168 3,382 
			 2003-04 196 309 340 245 334 330 1,144 411 172 3,481 
			 2004-05 196 304 350 198 272 309 1,177 207 130 3,142 
			 2005-06 180 269 246 149 202 217 616 153 109 2,142 
			 2006-07 139 216 180 134 185 161 423 194 101 1,733 
			  Source: Communities and Local Government Capital Outturn Returns (COR).

Council Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the level of band D council tax has been in each local authority in each year since 1997.

John Healey: Details of the level of band D council tax in each local authority in England in each year since 1997-98 are available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/ctax/data/ctaxtimes.xls

Empty Property: Non-Domestic Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether vacant Crown property will be liable to pay the business rate once rate relief for empty properties has been removed.

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether empty Government premises will be liable for empty property business rates from April 2008.

John Healey: Empty property relief is not being removed. From 1 April 2008, 100 per cent. relief will be available for three months in respect of all empty non-domestic properties, and for six months for empty qualifying industrial and warehouse properties. 100 per cent. relief will continue to be available permanently for other classes of empty property which will be specified in regulations to be laid before Parliament for approval shortly.
	For those empty properties in respect of which 100 per cent. relief is not available permanently, after the initial periods of 100 per cent. relief come to an end, the empty property rate will be 100 per cent. of the basic occupied rate.
	The Crown is liable to pay rates on its properties in the usual way. Crown property will therefore be eligible for empty property relief for the appropriate period and after that period ends, will be subject to the normal empty property rate.

Floods: Planning

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications for developments in flood risk areas were approved against the advice of the Environment Agency in each of the last three years.

Caroline Flint: Policies were first introduced to control development in areas at risk of flooding in 2001. In 2001-02, the proportion of applications approved contrary to the Environment Agency's objections on flood risk was 11 per cent., in 2006-07 the proportion was 2 per cent. This information comes from the Environment Agency's report to CLG and DEFRA (HLT5).

Floods: Planning Permission

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will bring forward proposals to introduce a power to rescind planning permission where there is a serious risk of that location flooding or if that development will cause another site to flood; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 22 January 2 008
	 The Secretary of State already has power under section 100 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to revoke or modify a planning permission granted by a local planning authority. Revocation or modification can only be made before a planning permission is implemented. Such intervention is justified only in exceptional circumstances and the Secretary of State will generally use this power only if the original decision is judged to be grossly wrong.
	It is clearly better to ensure that up to date and relevant Government planning policy is available for local planning authorities to take into account, when planning for development and deciding planning applications. Planning Policy Statement 25 Development and Flood Risk, published in December 2006, provides such planning policy.

Home Information Packs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many trainee  (a) home inspectors and  (b) energy inspectors have received a qualification from Morgan Whittaker.

Yvette Cooper: The latest figures from ABBE and City and Guilds show that there are 391 qualified home inspectors and domestic energy assessors who registered through Morgan Whittaker.

Home Information Packs

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the  (a) financial and  (b) non-financial effect of home information packs on the housing market; and what criteria and evidence she has used in making the assessment.

Caroline Flint: I refer to the hon. Member to the home information packs update written ministerial statement made on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 140-142WS.

Home Information Packs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consultation process has taken place on the allowed age of an energy performance certificate in a Home Information Pack.

Caroline Flint: In line with the Government's code of practice, a formal consultation on the allowed age of an energy performance certificate in a home information pack was launched on 13 December 2007 and can be seen on the Communities and Local Government website. The consultation presents a range of scenarios and invites respondents to provide any additional evidence that should be considered. It closes on 6 March 2008.

Home Information Packs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which unique property reference number is used to identify a property in a home condition report.

Caroline Flint: The Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) generated by the Register is used to identify a property in a home condition report.

Home Information Packs: Pilot Schemes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the contractual deadline is for Ipsos Mori to complete its evaluation of the area trials for home condition reports.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 652W.

Housing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes the Government have made to the rules and regulations relating to housing and capital receipts since 1997.

Caroline Flint: I assume that for housing and capital receipts the hon. Member means local authorities' housing capital receipts. The substantial changes since 1997 to the regulations relating to these are in the following table. Any reader of the table will wish to be aware that under the set-aside regime, which ran until 1 April 2004, with-debt local authorities were required to set aside a proportion of the capital receipt generated by the disposal of a Housing Revenue Account (HRA) asset, for repayment of housing debt. For right to buy that proportion was 75 per cent. For stock-transfer receipts the set-aside was also 75 per cent., unless the value of the housing debt exceeded 75 per cent., in which case the amount to be set aside was raised until it met the value of the debt. For other, non-dwelling sales, the proportion of set-aside was 50 per cent. The local authority was free to use the remaining 25 per cent./50 per cent. respectively for any capital purpose they chose.
	From 1 April 2004, all local authorities were required to pay the Secretary of State the same amounts through the process of pooling which formerly would have been set aside. The exception is stock-transfer receipts which are not subject to pooling. Instead, the equivalent amounts of debt are assumed for the purposes of calculating housing subsidy to have been paid off by the authority.
	
		
			  Date change came into effect  Effect of change 
			 1 April 1999 Reduction in the set-aside requirement for receipts arising from the sale of dwellings. The reduction being determined with reference to costs incurred by the authority in the preceding year of buying back certain properties previously sold under RTB. 
			 23 July 1999 Exemption of certain non-monetary housing receipts from the set-aside requirement which consist of rights to nominate persons to occupy a dwelling. 
			 5 February 2003 Facility for authorities to use all their housing receipts (except receipts arising from RTB and similar sales) for affordable housing. 
			 1 April 2004 Replacement of the requirement for authorities with debt to set-aside a proportion of housing receipts with the requirement (for both with-debt and debt-free authorities) to pay the same amount to the Secretary of State. 
			 16 December 2004 Exemption of receipts subject to clawback by English Partnerships from the pooling requirement. 
			 16 December 2004 Exemption of small-scale voluntary transfers to registered social landlords from the pooling requirement. 
			 1 April 2006 Facility for authorities to use all their receipts arising from the Social Homebuy scheme for affordable housing.

Housing: Databases

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which unique property reference number is used to identify a property in a home condition report.

Caroline Flint: The Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) generated by the Register is used to identify a property in a home condition report.

Housing: Floods

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many hectares of land were changed to residential use within flood risk areas in England in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: The Government's aim is to avoid inappropriate development in such areas. Flood risk must be taken into account at all stages of the planning process. Development that would not be safe in the higher flood risk areas should be directed to areas of lower risk wherever this is practicable. We have strengthened the system significantlynew planning rules introduced last year (PPS25) make clear that councils should not give the go ahead to new housing in areas where the Environment Agency advise against it. The new rules are already beginning to have an impact and it is vital that councils continue to work with the Environment Agency to ensure that new homes are safe from flooding and property sustainable for the future.
	The total land area of England is approximately 13 million hectares. Around 10 per cent. of this is in an area of high flood risk, much of it within London and other existing urban areas. Of this high flood risk area, only around 2,500 hectares (0.2 per cent.) changed to residential use between 1997 and 2004 (the latest year for which information is available).
	The following table gives the information requested for broken down by year. It relates to the period before the planning system was strengthened:
	
		
			  Area of residential land in high flood risk areas (hectares)( 1) 
			   Number 
			 1997 410 
			 1998 345 
			 1999(2) n/a 
			 2000 370 
			 2001 375 
			 2002 400 
			 2003 390 
			 2004 255 
			 (1). Area of newly residential land with more than zero dwellings. (2). 1999 estimates unavailable due to incomplete data  Notes: 1. There is an inevitable time-lag between land use change occurring and it being recorded, therefore data are constantly being updated. 2. The data in the table above are based on records received from Ordnance Survey up to June 2007.  Source: Land Use Change Statistics data (LUCS 22A, October 2007) 
		
	
	The definition of high flood risk areas used by Communities and Local Government are the high risk zone mapped by the Environment Agency as being at a probability of flooding, excluding the presence of flood defences, of at least one in one hundred each year for river flooding and at least one in two hundred for coastal flooding.

Housing: Low Incomes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in how many instances monies provided via key worker living have been recouped as a result of key workers leaving their profession in  (a) East Worthing and Shoreham,  (b) West Sussex and  (c) across the entire scheme; what returns were recorded on the initial grant investments to key workers; what assessment she has made of the effect on the recruitment and retention of key workers of this facility; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: We do not centrally hold data on the number of instances where monies provided via the key worker living scheme have been recouped as a result of key workers leaving their profession, or what returns were recorded on the initial grant investments to key workers.
	Since April 2006 purchasers of New Build HomeBuy have five years to repay the assistance they receive if they leave qualifying employment. Purchasers of Open Market HomeBuy have two years in which to repay assistance.
	HomeBuy Agents monitor on-going key worker employment in their areas.

Housing: Pests

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what recent discussions she has had with local authorities on pest infestation control in domestic properties following last year's flooding; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what responsibilities local authorities have with regard to pest infestation in domestic properties; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Housing Health and Safety Rating System is a risk based evaluation tool to help local authorities identify and protect against potential risks and hazards to health and safety from any deficiencies identified in dwellings. It was introduced by Communities and Local Government in 2006 together with local authority operating guidance for its use.
	Local authorities are responsible for the local implementation and enforcement of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. If a property is found to contain serious hazards the local authority has a duty to take the most appropriate action in relation to the hazard.
	Infestations from mice, rats and other vermin are hazards covered by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
	No local authorities have raised the issue of pest infestation in the context of flooding. We continue to keep in close contact with flood affected authorities as they recover from the summer floods.

Local Authorities: Grants

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 29 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 667-68W, on local authorities: grants, what the grant per capita was in real terms to each local authority in England in  (a) 1998-99,  (b) 2005-06 and  (c) 2006-07; and what the average grant per capita in (i) district councils, (ii) unitary councils, (iii) county councils, (iv) metropolitan councils and (v) London boroughs was in each of those years.

John Healey: I have deposited in the Library of the House a table showing the information on central Government grant per capita in real terms (at 2006-07 prices) for each local authority in 1998-99, 2005-06 and 2006-07.
	The average central Government grant per capita in real terms (at 2006-07 prices) by class of authority in 1998-99, 2005-06 and 2006-07 is tabled as follows.
	
		
			   per head 
			  Class of authority  1998-99  2005-06  2006-07 
			 District councils 75 82 91 
			 Unitary councils 768 1,072 1,085 
			 County councils 578 794 800 
			 Metropolitan councils 877 1,273 1,288 
			 London boroughs (including City of London) 1,021 1,344 1,359 
			  Source: Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO) 1998-99, 2005-06 and 2006-07 returns 
		
	
	Central Government grant is defined here as the sum of formula grant (Revenue support grant, police grant, general GLA grant and redistributed non-domestic rates) and specific grants inside aggregate external finance (AEF), i.e. revenue grants paid for council's core services. In 1998-99, it also includes the SSA reduction grant but excludes the general GLA grant.
	Figures exclude grants outside AEF (i.e. where funding is not for authorities' core services, but is passed to a third party, for example, rent allowances and rebates), capital grants, funding for the local authorities' housing management responsibilities and those grant programmes (such as European funding) where authorities are simply one of the recipients of funding paid towards an area.
	Per capita figures for 1998-99, 2005-06 and 2006-07 are based on Office for National Statistics' (ONS) 1998, 2005 and 2006 mid-year population estimates. The real terms figures have been revalued for 1998-99 and 2005-06 years at 2006-07 prices using the latest HM Treasury's GDP deflators.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid due to changing local authority responsibilities.

Local Government Finance: Derbyshire

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the revenue support grant for Derbyshire councils has been in each of the last eight years.

John Healey: The following table shows the amount of formula grant, which comprises revenue support grant, redistributed business rates, principal formula police grant, SSA reduction grant (SSA review), SSA reduction grant (police funding review) and central support protection grant, where appropriate, for Derbyshire councils for the period 2000-01 to 2007-08.
	
		
			   million 
			  Local authority  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  Amended 2003-04  Amended 2004-05  Amended 2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Derbyshire 360.961 375.573 378.324 426.869 445.456 475.817 130.773 137.564 
			 Derby 158.471 164.639 166.577 185.398 193.665 205.760 88.879 92.353 
			 Amber Valley 6.434 6.901 7.175 7.871 7.396 7.755 8.981 9.348 
			 Bolsover 4.877 5.177 5.386 5.878 5.615 5.999 7.251 7.637 
			 Chesterfield 7.259 7.485 7.660 8.241 7.717 7.966 9.457 9.848 
			 Erewash 6.277 6.587 6.750 7.398 7.182 7.647 8.869 9.314 
			 High Peak 5.385 5.588 5.774 6.339 5.768 5.949 6.723 6.945 
			 North-east Derbyshire 5.064 5.262 5.387 5.915 5.763 6.099 7.238 7.592 
			 South Derbyshire 4.450 4.612 4.727 5.199 5.048 5.415 6.324 6.703 
			 Derbyshire Dales 4.141 4.355 4.493 4.545 4.083 4.208 4.652 4.690 
			 Derbyshire Police 89.611 93.963 95.021 97.936 101.157 105.241 102.023 105.817 
			 Derbyshire Fire 17.613 18.540 16.185 16.920 
		
	
	Please note that the amount of formula grant that each authority receives is not directly comparable year-on-year due to changes in funding and functions over this period.

Local Government: Standards

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 552W, on local government: standards, what additional information local authorities will need to report to support national policy development.

John Healey: We are working with other Government Departments to identify those data collections which are to be discontinued, in line with the commitment made in the Local Government White Paper, to limit data collection to that which is necessary for reasons such as financial management and policy development, and the 30 per cent. target for reduction in data burdens announced on 9 October 2007 as part of the comprehensive spending review.

Non-domestic Rates: Tax Allowances

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the existing system of business rate reliefs and exemptions will apply to the supplementary business rate.

John Healey: Business rate supplements: A White Paper makes clear that, with the exception of transitional relief, existing business rates reliefs and exemptions will apply to supplements in addition to a mandatory exemption in respect of properties with a rateable value of 50,000 or less.

Rural Areas: Sustainable Development

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if she will meet the Leader and Chief Executive of Lichfield district council and the hon. Member for Lichfield to discuss plans for an eco-village near Fradley;
	(2)  what consultations she has had with  (a) district and county councils and  (b) regional assemblies on the location of the proposed new eco-towns and villages.

Caroline Flint: We are consulting with local authorities in the relevant areas covered by proposed eco-towns in January 2008 as part of an initial assessment of bids and will also consult the regional assemblies. We expect to publish proposals shortly. There will be considerable opportunity for consultation and engagement involving hon. Members, local authorities and the public before the process is completed.

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what decision-making powers the draft Marine Bill will give to the Marine Management Organisation on major infrastructure planning in the marine environment.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The proposed Marine Management Organisation (MMO) would make development consent decisions, where the UK Government have responsibility, for all development activities in the marine area with the exceptions only of:
	(i) operations that relate to oil and gas exploration and exploitation, and operations relating to the construction, maintenance, protection or removal of submarine pipelines, both of which will continue to be determined under the current regimes;
	(ii) offshore renewable energy projects capable of generating more than 100 megawatts of power and major port developments, which will be determined by the proposed Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC). In these cases, the MMO will be a key adviser to the IPC, including on appropriate conditions on development consents.
	The MMO will also decide on the appropriate monitoring and enforcement regime for nationally significant infrastructure projects as well as those it consents itself, and take enforcement action when necessary.
	The MMO will be set up to be able to take on new functions in the future if that were the best way of achieving sustainable development in the marine area.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Aggregates: Recycling

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the level of production of recycled aggregate in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: Communities and Local Government carry out a biennial survey on the 'Arisings and Use of Alternatives to Primary Aggregates in England'. The estimated production of recycled aggregates in England was 36.47 million tonnes in 2001, 39.60 million tonnes in 2003 and 42.07 million tonnes in 2005. No more recent figures are available.

Air Pollution: EU Law

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he or his officials have made representations to the European Commission in relation to the EU air quality framework directive on derogations for time limits on meeting pollution levels covered by the directive; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 24 January 2008
	The UK has not made any request for derogations under the current EU air quality framework directive.
	The new EU directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe is expected to be adopted later this year. It provides for member states to seek approval from the European Commission for plans to meet existing limit values for particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide by extended deadlines. Any decision by the Government to apply for the extended deadlines would be subject to a full public consultation.

Air Pollution: Urban Areas

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which cities did not meet their air quality targets in the latest year for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: The UK is required to report breaches of EU air quality limit values/long-term objectives to the European Commission on an annual basis. The following table provides a list of all agglomerations (urban areas with a population greater than 250,000) in which breaches occurred in 2006this is the latest year for which fully validated data is available. The data can also be accessed via the European Environment Agency's website.
	In interpreting the data, it is important to note that, in nearly all cases, the breaches occurred alongside the busiest roads in built up urban areas, such as Marylebone road in central London, and were not widespread.
	The UK's recently revised Air Quality Strategy sets out a way forward for work and planning on improving air quality throughout the UK.
	
		
			  2006 breaches of EU limit values/long-term objectives in UK agglomerations 
			   Nitrogen dioxide  Particulate matter (PM 16 )  Ozone 
			   1 hour mean limit value  Annual mean limit value  Daily mean limit value  Annual mean limit value  Long term objective 
			 Greater London Urban Area y y y y y 
			 West Midlands Urban Area  m m m y 
			 Greater Manchester Urban Area  y m  y 
			 West Yorkshire Urban Area  m y  y 
			 Tyneside  m m  y 
			 Liverpool Urban Area  m m  y 
			 Sheffield Urban Area  m m  y 
			 Nottingham Urban Area  m m  y 
			 Bristol Urban Area  y m  m 
			 Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton  m y  y 
			 Leicester Urban Area  m m  y 
			 Portsmouth Urban Area  m m  y 
			 Teesside Urban Area  m m  y 
			 The Potteries (Stoke on Trent)  m m  y 
			 Bournemouth Urban Area  m m  y 
			 Reading/Wokingham Urban Area  m m  y 
			 Coventry/Bedworth  m m  y 
			 Kingston upon Hull  m m  y 
			 Southampton Urban Area  m m  y 
			 Birkenhead Urban Area  m   y 
			 Southend Urban Area  m m  y 
			 Blackpool Urban Area y 
			 Preston Urban Area  m   y 
			 Glasgow Urban Area  y y  m 
			 Edinburgh Urban Area  m   y 
			 Cardiff Urban Area  m   y 
			 Swansea Urban Area y 
			 Belfast Urban Area  m m  y 
			  indicates no breach; y indicates a monitored breach; m indicates a modelled breach.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme: Energy Generation

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on the environment of payments to UK energy companies under the EU emissions trading scheme.

Phil Woolas: No payments have been made to UK energy companies under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) although they have received free allowances which have a value. In the first two years of the EU ETS (2005 and 2006) the power sector was allocated 136.9 million tonnes, compared with emissions of 174.04 million tonnes in 2003. In 2006 the power sector emitted 45.9 million tonnes above its allocation, leading to a requirement for UK energy companies to buy allowances from other installations, thereby ensuring that total emissions remained within the EU cap.

Fisheries: Yorkshire and The Humber

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has conducted of the levels of fish and shellfish off the coast of Yorkshire.

Jonathan R Shaw: Both the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) operate a routine sampling programme in order to determine the quantities and size-range of fish and shellfish landed by UK vessels operating off the Yorkshire coast. Cefas also monitors fishery discards by placing scientific observers on board fishing vessels.
	Additionally, the levels of fish and shellfish stocks off the Yorkshire coast are studied during trawling and potting surveys funded under the Fishery Science Partnership and also Cefas's annual third quarter trawl survey of the North Sea.

Flood Control

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in implementing the 15 urgent recommendations of the Pitt review; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: We have accepted all the urgent recommendations from the interim report of the Pitt review and are working with other organisations involved in taking them forward as quickly as possible.

Floods: Insurance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has in relation to a joint fund with insurance companies to enable leaseholders at risk of flooding to  (a) improve defences and  (b) re-locate.

Phil Woolas: Total central and local government spend on management of flood and coastal erosion risk will be some 600 million this year, rising incrementally to 800 million in 2010-11. This will be invested largely in works on the ground carried out by the operating authorities, the Environment Agency, local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards, to benefit many communities around the country. We are undertaking a joint review with the Association of British Insurers of its Statement of Principles in relation to insurance and flood risk but there are no plans for a joint fund with insurance companies at present.

Fly Tipping: Easington

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on the clean-up of fly tipping in the District of Easington in  (a) 2002,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2007.

Joan Ruddock: Data are only available from 2004 onwards.
	I have arranged for a table to be placed in the Library of the House showing the number of fly-tipping incidents, estimated clearance costs and prosecutions recorded in each local authority by local authorities on Flycapture for 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.
	Following the release of the 2006-07 Flycapture statistics on 9 October 2007, this information has been sent to all MPs.
	It is also available to download electronically on DEFRA's Flycapture website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localenv/flytipping/flycapture-data.htm

Fly Tipping: Fines

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what records his Department collects on the number of fines issued by local authorities for fly-tipping offences in relation to putting out household rubbish  (a) at the wrong time,  (b) in breach of a closed lid policy and  (c) in breach of a no side waste collection policy.

Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 January 2008,  Official Report , column 753W.

Fly Tipping: Wirral

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the total cost of clean-up of fly-tipping was in Wirral, South in  (a) 2007,  (b) 2003 and  (c) 1997;
	(2)  how many incidents of fly-tipping there were in Wirral, South in the past  (a) year,  (b) five years and  (c) 10 years.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 25 January 2008
	Data are only available from 2004 onwards.
	I have arranged for a table to be placed in the Library of the House showing the number of fly-tipping incidents, estimated clearance costs and prosecutions recorded in each local authority by local authorities on Flycapture for 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.
	Following the release of the 2006-07 Flycapture statistics on 9 October 2007, this information has been sent to all MPs.
	It is also available to download electronically on DEFRA's Flycapture website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localenv/flytipping/flycapture-data.htm

Inland Waterways

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what percentage of miles of inland waterways are  (a) publicly owned,  (b) privately owned and not accessible by the public and  (c) privately owned and accessible by the public.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA sponsors the three main navigation authoritiesBritish Waterways, the Environment Agency and the Broads Authoritywhich together manage approximately 2,800 miles of inland waterways in England and Wales for public benefit. The Department does not hold information relating to other waterways.

Landfill: Health Hazards

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has conducted on the potential hazards of re-using landfill sites for recreational land.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 25 January 2008
	DEFRA has not carried out any recent research on the potential hazards of re-using landfill sites for recreational land.
	However, the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) has conducted research looking at the remedial engineering aspects associated with closed landfills and has produced a report written specifically with redevelopers in mind. The principles of the approach laid out in the report draw heavily from the substantive research conducted by the former Department of the Environment and the Environment Agency in the 1980s and 1990s.
	The document (Barry et al (2001) Remedial Engineering for Closed Landfill Sites, Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) Report C557, ISBN 0-86017-557-X) provides guidance to designers and regulators on the principal statutory, technical and environmental factors which can influence the redevelopment of former landfill sites. The report summarises that the suitability of sites for particular uses will depend on several factors such as age, depth and nature of wastes, in addition to the site's environmental setting and conventional land-use planning aspects of redevelopment.

Landfill: Wirral

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of Wirral, South's waste was put into landfill in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2003.

Joan Ruddock: The metropolitan borough of Wirral is a Waste Collection Authority and disposal statistics are not therefore available. However, percentages for Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority show 77.57 per cent. of its waste was landfilled in 2006-07 and 91.3 per cent. in 2002-03.

Marine Manifesto Organisation

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on implementing the 2005 manifesto commitment to create a marine manifesto organisation.

Jonathan R Shaw: As set out in the White Paper A Sea Change, published in March 2007, the UK Government intends to use the Marine Bill to set up a new marine management organisation to deliver many of our objectives for the marine area.
	The Government are committed to publishing a draft Marine Bill as part of the legislative programme in this 2007-08 session of Parliament. We expect this will be in the spring of 2008. The timetable for the introduction of a Marine Bill to, and passage through, Parliament will be subject to the outcome of scrutiny of the draft Bill and the availability of parliamentary time.
	Alongside preparing the legislation, we are planning the practical steps to be taken to set up the organisation.

Nitrates: Pollution

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the water industry on the use of anaerobic digesters on farms to reduce nitrate pollution.

Phil Woolas: My Department is committed to making the most of the potential of anaerobic digestion to contribute to our climate change and wider environmental objectives, including reducing nitrate pollution. A number of discussions have taken place with water stakeholders including companies.
	We are encouraging and facilitating communication between interested parties in industry, regulators, government delivery bodies and non-governmental bodies about meeting these goals.
	We will work with stakeholders, including the water industry, to develop and disseminate information on best practice and technology for the use of anaerobic digestion in a way that is both cost effective and beneficial to the environment, for example through DEFRA's New Technologies Demonstrator Programme and through advice to farmers.
	More information on anaerobic digestion and what action the Government are taking to support its uptake is available in the Anaerobic Digestion Working Paper, published alongside the UK Biomass Strategy and on the DEFRA website at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/Environment/climatechange/uk/energy/renewablefuel/pdf/ukbio0507-work3.pdf

Plastics: Biodegradability

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to introduce a  (a) quality assurance scheme and  (b) kite mark for biodegradable plastics.

Joan Ruddock: The Government have no plans for a new quality assurance scheme or kite mark for biodegradable plastics.
	One of the main applications for biodegradable plastics in the UK at present is in packaging where agreed standards already exist. Since the development of the ED packaging regulations, the European standard for compostable and biodegradable packagingEN 13432has been adopted in the UK. BS EN 13427:2000 provides a framework within which this and four other standards (BS EN 13429, BS EN 13430, BS EN 13431, and BS EN 13432) may be used together to support a claim that packaging is in compliance with the essential requirements for it to be placed on the market, as required by the Directive
	These standards ensure that a product is biodegradable, compostable, and safe. In order to gain certification to BS EN13432, the final product must be fully tested and approved. Only if it is certified under BS EN13432, is it acceptable for recovery through biological treatment under the UK packaging recovery note scheme.
	There are a number of certification bodies across the EU. In the UK the main one is the Composting Association, which operates a certification scheme in partnership with the German certification body, Din Certco.

Plastics: Recycling

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2008,  Official Report, column 521W, on plastics: recycling, if he will commission research to determine the amount of  (a) non-bottle shaped and  (b) bottled shaped domestic plastics packaging that is (i) recycled into new products in the UK, (ii) landfilled and (iii) exported for reprocessing in other countries; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: My Department has no plans to commission specific research on the destination of non-bottle shaped and bottle-shaped plastic packaging originating from the household waste stream. Various data are already collected by this Department and HM Treasury on the handling and destination of plastic packaging.
	Based on 2006 figures, the UK recovered 457 kilotonnes of plastic; comprising 22 per cent. of all plastic packaging entering the waste stream, which amounts to approximately 2.12 million tonnes. 166 kilotonnes of the plastic recovered is reprocessed in the UK and 291 kilotonnes is exported.
	It is estimated that non-bottle mixed plastic packaging arising from the domestic waste stream is around one million tonnes per year. In 2006, around 132,000 tonnes of plastic bottles were collected and recycled from UK households.
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is undertaking trials with a number of technologies with the aim of understanding the best ways to handle mixed plastics from an environmental, economical and technological perspective. The programme is investigating three main areas: collection, reprocessing, and end markets. Different recycling and recovery options are being considered as part of this work, including reprocessing mixed plastics into new plastics, incineration, chemical treatment and even turning them into diesel. WRAP'S focus on mixed plastics follows on from the successful uptake of plastic bottle recycling.

Plastics: Recycling

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his strategy is for increasing the number of facilities for reprocessing plastic waste in the UK.

Joan Ruddock: According to studies carried out by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) on the plastic processing capacity/supply relationship, the indication is that the UK, along with most of Europe, in fact has excess capacity to process plastic waste. The exception to this is for plastic bottles, and to some extent waste electrical and electronic equipment plastics, where growth in collection has supported a substantial growth in reprocessing capacity.
	However, this is a complex area, and much of the existing capacity is too old, too small or targeting the wrong end products. Many plants are therefore investing in new capacity or updating and consolidating existing plants, some with support from WRAP. WRAP has a number of projects designed to maximise the amount and quality of recyclate, including plastic, used in UK manufacturing operations.
	WRAP'S focus on mixed plastics follows on from the successful uptake of plastic bottle recycling. Plastic bottle recycling has significantly increased in recent years, with around 132,000 tonnes of plastic bottles collected and recycled from UK households in 2006.

Sustainable Development

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the Sustainable Development Commission to publish its Sustainable Development in Government report for 2006-07.

Phil Woolas: The Government's independent watchdog, the Sustainable Development Commission, is due to publish its Sustainable Development in Government report for 2006-07 in mid-March 2008.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department has given to waste collection authorities on  (a) closed lid policies and  (b) no side waste collection policies.

Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 869W.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether households on council tax benefit will be liable for the proposed new household rubbish collection charge in the pilot areas.

Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 8 January,  Official Report, column 393W.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department has provided to local authorities on providing fortnightly collections for  (a) recycling and  (b) household rubbish; if he will place a copy of the guidance in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA has not provided guidance to local authorities on fortnightly collections of household waste. However, the DEFRA funded Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has published guidance for local authorities on the design and implementation of alternate collection services, which is available from WRAP's website.
	Copies of this guidance have already been placed in the Library of the House.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what penalty may be imposed on people who not do pay the levied charge in a pilot area for the proposed new household rubbish collection charge scheme.

Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 January,  Official Report, column 1497W.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 868W, on waste disposal: domestic waste, if he will place in the Library a copy of the 2006 DEFRA research reports into  (a) bonfire smoke complaints and  (b) emissions of dioxins.

Joan Ruddock: I am arranging for the information requested to be placed in the House Library.

Waste Disposal: Hazardous Substances

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: In general, arisings of hazardous waste continue to decline and the Government, along with the Environment Agency in England and Wales, continues to pursue policies to encourage this process. For example, the Environment Agency-sponsored HazRed scheme encouraged small and medium sized enterprises in six key sectors to minimise and manage hazardous waste. Although the scheme is now closed, businesses and industry continue to learn from its lessons.
	Other policies, such as those in the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (ROHS) aim to reduce the amount of hazardous components and materials in certain products, which in turn leads to reductions in hazardous waste arisings.
	In addition to the efforts to reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated, the Government are seeking ways to recover material and energy from hazardous waste, as well as ensuring its safe treatment and disposal.

Waste Management

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of waste the Waste and Resources Action Programme disposed of in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of total residual waste this represented.

Joan Ruddock: The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) recycles or composts 84 per cent. of the waste it produces, capturing 95 per cent. of the materials it is currently able to recycle. The remaining 16 per cent. is sent for residual waste management. This represents approximately 2 tonnes of waste per annum and 10 tonnes of recycling and composting.
	The amount of waste produced, including recycling, is 57kg per office based employee. This is substantially below the Government's best practice level of 200kg per employee, set in Information Note 17/2000 by the Central Advice Unit of Property Advisers to the Civil Estate.

Whales

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  which other governments he plans to send copies of 'Protecting WhalesA Global Responsibility' document this year; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  to which other governments the 'Protecting WhalesA Global Responsibility' document has been sent; on which date the document was sent in each instance; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The UK has led efforts to recruit more conservation-minded countries to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) through our publication 'Protecting WhalesA Global Responsibility'. This publication has recently been updated and was re-released on 21 December 2007. In the coming weeks, posts will deliver the updated version to host governments, and will continue to engage in discussions with their counterparts on whaling at every appropriate opportunity.
	This year, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to 18 countries, encouraging them to join the IWC for the greater protection of whales.
	'Protecting WhalesA Global Responsibility' has been sent to over 60 countries, both anti and pro-whaling, encouraging them to join the effort to protect these species. Listing these countries could compromise our efforts to persuade them to join the IWC and adopt an anti-whaling stance.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Admiralty House

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many bedrooms each of the three official ministerial residences in Admiralty House has;
	(2)  how much has been spent from the public purse on beds for the official ministerial residences in Admiralty House since 1997.

Tom Watson: One flat has one or two bedrooms, depending on the configuration adopted. The other two flats have between two and four bedrooms, also depending on the configuration adopted. Information on the purchase of furniture is not held centrally.

Cabinet Committees: Disclosure of Information

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will reconsider the Government's practice on the disclosure of information on the attendance at and activities of Cabinet Committees.

Tom Watson: It has been the practice of successive governments not to disclose the details of attendance at and activities of Cabinet Committees.
	My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Mr. Wills) announced on 25 October 2007,  Official  R eport, column 19WS, that the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor have asked Paul Dacre, working with Professor David Cannadine and Sir Joseph Pilling, to review the length of time after which public records are released, currently 30 years. Any changes made as a result of this review may affect the release of details of attendance at and discussions within Cabinet Committees in the relevant time period.
	The review is now in progress and will report to the Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor by summer 2008.

Civil Service: Codes of Practice

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 916W, on official hospitality, if he will amend the  (a) Ministerial Code and  (b) Civil Service Code to introduce specific guidance on making bets (i) with and (ii) via a commercial organisation on political events;
	(2)  if he will initiate an investigation into whether any breaches of the Civil Service Code occurred in relation to movements in the political betting market on 6 October 2007 on the date of any future general election.

Tom Watson: The Government believe the principles set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Code continue to be appropriate. No further action is planned.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of Freedom of Information requests received by his Department have given rise to responses that have been published by his Department.

Tom Watson: Information on the number of requests received by the Cabinet Office is published by the Ministry of Justice:
	http://www.foi.gov.uk/reference/statisticsAndReports.htm
	Responses published by the Cabinet Office are available on the Cabinet Office website:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/foi/reading_room.aspx
	In addition, the Cabinet Office publishes on an annual basis information about Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas, gifts received by Ministers' valued at more than 140 and the names and cost of special advisers. The Government are also committed to an annual list of relevant Ministers' interests and details of all Ministers' overseas visits costing more than 500.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how much was paid in bonuses to press and communication officers in the Prime Minister's Office in each of the last 10 years; and what the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest such bonus was in each of those years;
	(2)  how much the Cabinet Office paid in bonuses to press and communication officers in each of the last 10 years; and what the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest such bonus was in each of those years.

Tom Watson: The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
	The information on which bonuses were paid specifically to press and communication officers in each of the last 10 years is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	For overall information on bonuses paid I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 913W, to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond), which gives information on bonuses paid to Cabinet Office staff since 2003.

Departmental Pay

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many employees of the Prime Minister's Office were paid  (a) over 60,000 and  (b) over 100,000 per annum, inclusive of bonuses, in the most recent financial year for which figures are available.

Tom Watson: The Prime Minister's Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. Members of the Senior Civil Service are paid under arrangements determined by the Senior Salaries Review Body. SCS bonuses represent 7.6 per cent. of the total SCS pay bill.
	The number of Senior Civil Servants in the Cabinet Office is published by ONS in the annual Civil Service Statistics, this can be found at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/2006CivilServiceStatistics.pdf

Departmental Telephone Services

Rob Marris: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many 0845 or similar cost telephone numbers are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) related departmental bodies for public access to services.

Tom Watson: holding answer 28 January 2008
	The Cabinet Office and its related departmental bodies do not directly employ 0845 or similar cost telephone numbers for public access to services.

Honours: Criminal Investigation

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 755-56W, on honours: criminal investigation, and with reference to the letter of 18 December 2007 from the Cabinet Secretary to the Chairman of the Public Administration Committee, which lawyers were commissioned to provide external legal advice.

Edward Miliband: The law firms commissioned to provide external legal advice were Eversheds LLP, Peters  Peters, and Russell Jones  Walker.

Honours: Criminal Investigation

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 755-56W, on Honours: Criminal Investigation, and with reference to the letter of 18 December 2007 from the Cabinet Secretary to the Chairman of the Public Administration Committee, what the cost was to the public purse of the external legal advice and support for the right hon. Tony Blair.

Edward Miliband: The right hon. Tony Blair received no external legal advice and support. Therefore there was no cost to the public purse.

Ministers

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many Ministers have held more than  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three,  (d) four,  (e) five,  (f) six,  (g) seven,  (h) eight,  (i) nine and  (j) 10 ministerial positions in the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many ministerial positions there were in each of the last 10 years, broken down by Government Department.

Tom Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Edward Miliband) to the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) on 17 September 2007,  Official Report, column 2225W.

Ministers: Pay

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what increase in ministerial pay there was in each of the last 10 years; and what percentage of the 1997 level of ministerial pay each increase represents.

Tom Watson: Ministerial salaries are paid in accordance with the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975. Details of ministerial salaries are available at:
	http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/m06.pdf
	and in the Library of the House.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what percentage of non-departmental public bodies changed their names in each of the last 10 years.

Tom Watson: holding answer 24 January 2008
	The names of all non-departmental public bodies are listed in the annual Cabinet Office Public Bodies publication. Information for 1998 to 2006 can be downloaded from:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp
	Information for 2007 will be published shortly.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  when he will publish information on the number and expenditure of non-departmental public bodies for 2007;
	(2)  how many non-departmental public bodies there were in each of the last 10 years, broken down by Government Department.

Tom Watson: Information on non-departmental public bodies is published annually by the Cabinet Office. Information covering the period 1998 to 2006 appears in the Public Bodies publications. These can be downloaded from the civil service website at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp
	Information for 2007 will be published shortly.

Youth Volunteering

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1172W, on youth volunteering, what  (a) local,  (b) regional and  (c) national organisations v has commissioned to provide volunteering opportunities.

Phil Hope: Details of the projects funded by v can be found on their website at:
	www.wearev.com
	Copies of the list of funded projects has also been placed in the Library for the reference of Members.
	The Office of the Third Sector have also provided funding in this financial year to the following organisations that provide or promote youth volunteering opportunities: Youthnet UK (461,300), National Youth Agency (307,500), Youth Action Network (153,800) and the British Youth Council (92,300).

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies: Standards

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of school leavers from academy schools entered  (a) employment and  (b) other educational establishments upon leaving in the latest period for which figures are available; and what is the comparative average figure for other types of school.

Jim Knight: The Department's estimates of the number and proportion young people in employment, education and training can be found at the following link but they cannot be disaggregated by prior institution:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000734/sfr22 2007.pdf
	However it is possible to produce estimates of the proportion of academic age(1) 16-year-olds in education and Work Based Learning by school type at age 15 using matched administrative data. This will slightly underestimate participation compared to official estimates as it does not cover all those participating on post-16 education or training. It is not possible to produce estimates of those young people in employment by prior institution in this way.
	Table 1 shows the proportion of 15-year-olds in (i) academies and (ii) all other maintained schools that go on to participate in education and Work Based Learning at age 16. The table shows that the proportion in education (81 per cent.) and in Work Based Learning (5 per cent.) in the year following the completion of compulsory education is the same for both groups of young people.
	(1) Academic age is the age of the individual measured at the beginning of the academic year, 31 August. Academic age 16 is the first year after compulsory education, i.e. year 12.
	
		
			  Table 1participation of 16-year-olds in education and Work Based Learning (WBL) by school attended at age 15, England 
			   Not in education or WBL( 1)  In education  In WBL 
			 Percentage 
			 Academies 14 81 5 
			 All other maintained schools(2) 14 81 5 
			 (1) This group will include those in employer funded training that is not WBL, those attending independent colleges or training centres and some individuals in part time education. (2) Excludes those in independent schools or colleges and pupil referral units.  Source: Matched administrative data, 19 in 2008 cohort

Antisocial Behaviour

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what mechanisms have been established to co-ordinate policy on youth crime and antisocial behaviour with other Departments.

Beverley Hughes: Government's response to youth crime is cross-cutting. Home Office retains the lead on crime and antisocial behaviour, and is overseeing the development of the forthcoming Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP). The Department has lead policy responsibility for youth crime prevention, while the newly established Joint Youth Justice Unit (shared between my Department and the Ministry of Justice) is responsible for advising Ministers about the youth justice system.
	Youth offending is linked to a number of other negative outcomes, including substance misuse, teenage pregnancy and truancy. That is why the Paths to Success PSA sets out our vision for a more integrated approach to supporting vulnerable young people. Progress will be overseen by the Ministerial Committee on Families, Children and Young People and monitored by a cross-cutting official-level Board led by my Department.
	The Youth Taskforce has been created within my Department to help drive improvements in integrated delivery for young people across a range of outcomes, including tackling youth crime and antisocial behaviour, and will publish an action plan in the spring setting out how it will do so.

Assessments: Disadvantaged

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals pupils did not obtain level 4 in a combination of reading, writing and mathematics key stage 2 tests in 2007;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of pupils who were not eligible for free school meals obtained level 4 in a combination of reading, writing and mathematics Key Stage 2 tests in 2007.

Jim Knight: The available information is in the following table. Further information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Percentage achieving expected level (level 4) in KS2 English 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 (revised)  2007 (provisional) 
			 FSM 53 54 58 60 61 62 
			 Non FSM 79 79 81 82 83 83 
			 Gap 26 25 23 22 22 21 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage achieving expected level (level 4) in KS2 mathematics 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 (revised)  2007 (provisional) 
			 FSM 54 53 55 56 58 60 
			 Non FSM 70 76 78 78 79 80 
			 Gap 16 23 23 22 21 20 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage achieving expected level (level 4) in KS2 science 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 (revised)  2007 (provisional) 
			 FSM 72 72 71 72 73 75 
			 Non FSM 82 89 89 89 89 90 
			 Gap 10 17 18 17 16 15

Assessments: Manpower

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what support is made available from central Government funds for examination officers; at what grades they are employed by local authorities; what arrangements are in place for  (a) their continuing professional development and  (b) the monitoring of standards; what steps he has taken to ensure recruitment and retention to support the introduction of diplomas; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Examination officers are employed directly by schools and colleges. The grade at which they are employed is determined by their job description, which should be referenced against nationally agreed scales for salary and grading based on the specified duties and levels of responsibility.
	The National Assessment Agency (NAA), a division of the qualifications and curriculum authority, is responsible for supporting the operational delivery of examinations locally, and within this remit to support examination officers. The NAA provides training courses for new examination officers, a field team which provides tailored support and advice, and online resources. A specific programme on the administration of the diploma is supporting retention through keeping examination officers fully informed about the arrangements for these new qualifications.
	The monitoring of operational standards within the examinations system is undertaken by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), representing the awarding bodies which provide general qualifications.

Autism

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he plans to take to improve the services offered by his Department for people with autism and Asperger's syndrome in the next 10 years.

Kevin Brennan: The Department for Children, Schools and Families does not offer services for people with autism and Asperger's syndrome directly. However, the Department, through the national strategies, will continue to implement its long-term special educational needs (SEN) strategy removing barriers to achievement, aimed at bringing improvements in provision for all children with SEN, including those with autistic spectrum disorders. Part of the strategy is the inclusion development programme which in its next phase will focus on autism, developing practical materials to help teachers address autistic children's needs and providing cascaded training for school staff. The Department's Autism Working Group will be involved in this initiative and will continue to play a part in the Department's support for improvements in autism provision.
	The Department will continue to work with partners to improve provision for disabled children and their families. Under aiming high for disabled children over the coming three years we will be working with local authorities and others to improve information for parents, the provision of short breaks and support for young people at transition to adulthood, all extremely important areas of provision for children with autism and their families. We will also work with the voluntary, independent and statutory organisations represented by the Autism Education Trust, which we are helping to establish with set-up funding, to bring further improvements to provision for autistic children and their families.

Children: Day Care

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the total capacity of children's day care centres in  (a) Romford,  (b) Essex and  (c) Greater London in the most recent period for which figures are available; and what steps the Government are taking to increase this figure in 2008.

Beverley Hughes: Information is available only at local authority and Government office region level.
	The figures for Essex local authority and inner and outer London are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Registered child  care places at 31 March 2007( 1) 
			   Essex local authority  Inner London  Outer London 
			 Childminders 7,900 12,200 30,000 
			 Full day care 11,800 37,300 43,000 
			 Sessional day care 10,200 5,600 19,700 
			 Out of school day care 6,000 25,900 33,400 
			 Creche day care 900 4,000 3,400 
			 AH 36,800 85,000 129,400 
			 (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100.  Source: Ofsted. 
		
	
	Ofsted have produced figures on the numbers of registered child care providers and places on a quarterly basis from March 2003. Their latest figures were published in their report Registered Childcare Providers and Places, September 2007, which is available on their website, www.Ofsted.gov.uk/
	The local authorities concerned will be required from 1 April 2008 to secure sufficient child care for working parents in their area. It will be for them to decide, in the light of their assessments of the sufficiency of child care, whether additional places are needed.

Children: Sports

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate the Government have made of the total number of children not meeting the two hour sport and physical education public service agreement target.

Kevin Brennan: The PE and school sport public service agreement set out in the comprehensive spending review 2004 is for 85 per cent. of 5 to 6-year-olds to be participating in at least two hours high quality PE and school sport by September 2008. The 2006/07 school sport survey found that 86 per cent. of 5 to 16-year-olds were doing the two hours. Around 900,000 5 to 16-year-olds are currently not doing the two hours, but we expect this number to reduce significantly by September 2008.

Children's Centres: Graduates

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children's centres in each local authority employs at least one graduate.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 25 January 2008
	The information is not available in the form requested. Sure Start Children's Centres that provide integrated early learning and full day care (early years provision) are required to employ a graduate with qualified teacher status. This will include all centres serving the most disadvantaged communities and centres in less disadvantaged communities where full early years learning and care is provided on site to meet local demand. Local authorities confirm the teacher is in post when they seek designation for a Sure Start Children's Centre. There may also be graduates working as managers or in other professional capacities in centres. The proportion of centres with graduates will therefore vary from authority to authority depending on a variety of local factors.

Children's Centres: Standards

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in which  (a) regions and  (b) local authority areas has the target to provide a Sure Start Children's Centre for every community by 2008 been met to date.

Beverley Hughes: The target for a Sure Start children's centre for every community is 2010 not 2008. Local authorities in all regions are making good progress and we are on course to achieve the Government's interim target of 2,500 Sure Start children's centres by 2008.

Climate Change: Curriculum

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps have been taken to make the teaching of climate change and its implications for the future part of the curriculum; and if his Department will consider combining physical education with green activities, such as planting trees.

Kevin Brennan: Under both the current national curriculum in England for science and the new science curriculum to be taught in schools from September 2008, pupils aged 11-14 are taught about renewable energy and the possible impact of human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels, on the environment. The current geography curriculum for 11 to 14-year-olds requires pupils to be taught about resource planning and management issues, for example developing alternative energy sources. From September 2008, environmental interaction and sustainable development will be one of the key concepts in the new geography curriculum for 11 to 14-year-olds with a requirement to study climate change.
	Getting young people involved in activities such as cycling is also of great value in promoting habits that are both environmentally friendly promoting personal health and wellbeing.
	In addition, the Growing Schools initiative encourages, supports and inspires all schools to harness the full potential of the living world as a cross-curricular teaching and learning resource, both within and beyond the school grounds. The programme focuses particularly on food, farming and environmental issues and on ensuring pupils are given first hand, practical experience in the outdoor classroom.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Tyne and Wear

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in  (a) Tyne and Wear and  (b) Houghton and Washington East constituency were eligible for education maintenance allowance at (i) 30, (ii) 20 and (iii) 10 in the last three years.

Jim Knight: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). They hold information about take-up, at local authority level, since the scheme was rolled out nationally from September 2004. This information is published on the LSC website and is updated every month. It can be found at:
	http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/learner/EMA_take_up.htm
	One of the criteria used to assess eligibility for the education maintenance allowance (EMA) is the household income of the young person. Since we cannot estimate this with accuracy at a local level, and not everyone who is eligible for EMA takes it up, it is not possible to provide estimates of the number of EMA eligible pupils.

Education Visits: Bureaucracy

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to reduce the administrative burdens associated with undertaking an outdoor school trip.

Jim Knight: In the Children's Plan published earlier this month we said that we will ensure that schools and local authorities take a proportionate approach to health and safety to allow children to take risks while staying safe. Through the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto we are already working with local authorities, sector bodies and school work force representatives to provide up to date guidance, resources and training modules. These will make it clear that all young people should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of their learning and personal development whatever their age or circumstances, and provide schools with the tools they need to make these opportunities available. We are also standardising quality and safety accreditation schemes so that schools can be confident in using external venues. This work includes revising our existing guidance The Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits and we will expect local authorities to adopt these straightforward procedures when the guidance becomes available later this year.

Emergency Protection Orders

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent discussions he has had with local authority children's services on their use of emergency protection orders; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 24 January 2008
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families has not had any recent discussions with local authority children's services on their use of emergency protection orders (EPOs). We strengthened guidance on the use of EPOs in revised guidance to local authorities, Working Together to Safeguard Children, issued in 2006. This guidance makes clear that emergency action normally takes place following an inter-agency strategy discussion and that, where a single agency has to act immediately to protect a child, a strategy discussion should take place as soon as possible. It also explains that legal advice should normally be obtained before initiating legal action, in particular when an EPO is to be sought. Through the Children and Young Persons Bill, we are amending the legislative provision for EPOs to remove an anomaly identified by the courts in equivalent legislation in Northern Ireland.

English: Assessments

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will publish the findings of the pilot stage tests in English and mathematics taken by 40,000 pupils in December 2007.

Jim Knight: holding answer 28 January 2008
	In December 2007, 22,543 pupils took a total of 42,833 tests in the first round of single level tests as part of the Making Good Progress pilot. As this is the first pilot of a new assessment instrument, the National Assessment Agency is reviewing the outcomes from those tests before we release them to the individual schools which participated. We expect to publish overall results as part of PricewaterhouseCoopers' independent evaluation of the first year of the pilot.

Free School Meals: Easington

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils were in receipt of free school meals in Easington in each year since 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The requested information is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools( 1, 2) : School meal arrangements, Easington parliamentary constituency, position in January each year, 2004-07 
			   Maintained nursery and primary schools  Maintained secondary schools 
			   Number on roll( 3)  Number of pupils taking free school meals( 4)  %  taking free school meals( 4)  Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  %  known to be eligible for free school meals  Number on roll( 3)  Number of pupils taking free school meals( 4)  %  taking free school meals( 4)  Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  %  known to be eligible for free school meals 
			 2004 7,914 1,786 22.6 2,131 26.9 4,833 763 15.8 1,032 21.4 
			 2005 7,646 1,667 21.8 2,043 26.7 4,795 695 14.5 1,124 23.4 
			 2006 7,505 1,531 20.4 1,894 25.2 4,813 640 13.3 1,089 22.6 
			 2007 7,462 1,536 20.6 1,906 25.5 4,756 646 13.6 1,004 21.1 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Excludes city technology colleges and academies. (3) Includes dually registered pupils and boarding pupils.  (4) Relates to the number of pupils who actually took a free school meal on the say of the census in January.  Source: School Census.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils sat more than 15 GCSEs in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils sat  (a) GCSE and  (b) A-Level (i) history and (ii) geography in the London Borough of Bexley in each of the last 10 years; and what results were achieved.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of pupils in Bexley achieving each grade in GCSE geography and history in 1997/98 to 2006/07 
			   Grade   
			   A*  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  U  Absent  Total entries 
			  Geography
			 2007 69 149 143 233 107 52 24 20 19 1 817 
			 2006 105 104 132 191 121 70 32 14 12 1 782 
			 2005 94 123 147 216 168 98 47 21 24 1 939 
			 2004 63 108 154 241 153 76 38 20 24 1 878 
			 2003 66 140 158 216 147 91 61 24 17 5 925 
			 2002 81 143 199 321 205 129 92 36 31 3 1,240 
			 2001 59 115 159 243 149 90 57 20 14 1 907 
			 2000 59 115 159 243 149 90 57 20 14 1 907 
			 1999 48 138 158 245 175 91 60 18 13 6 952 
			 1998 40 140 178 244 202 138 84 36 24 4 1,090 
			 
			  History
			 2007 96 217 238 230 151 78 51 24 15 1 1,101 
			 2006 89 187 257 252 179 93 49 19 5 3 1,133 
			 2005 63 163 236 257 167 118 47 25 17 3 1,096 
			 2004 70 143 227 239 142 96 52 24 8 2 1,003 
			 2003 66 146 195 209 126 117 67 33 15 1 975 
			 2002 69 159 213 240 170 118 109 54 36 10 1,178 
			 2001 42 139 207 241 153 95 74 27 27 1 1,006 
			 2000 42 139 207 241 153 95 74 27 27 1 1,006 
			 1999 46 111 194 184 167 120 66 50 30 1 969 
			 1998 34 116 215 186 153 101 63 44 15 6 933 
			  Note: Figures relate to 15-year-olds, (age at the beginning of the academic year, ie 31 August), in all schools 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of pupils in Bexle y achieving each grade in GCE A- level geography and history in 1997/98 to 2006/07 
			   Grade  
			   A  B  C  D  E  Other  Entries 
			  Geography
			 2007 34 28 35 16 6 1 120 
			 2006 20 21 24 27 8 2 102 
			 2005 21 30 30 28 5 7 121 
			 2004 13 29 31 13 15 4 105 
			 2003 28 30 25 20 11 3 117 
			 2002 22 23 32 18 13 2 110 
			 2001 23 31 24 20 14 7 119 
			 2000 23 21 25 16 15 8 108 
			 1999 12 32 33 32 17 6 132 
			 1998 23 24 35 33 20 18 153 
			 
			  History
			 2007 54 62 72 55 11 1 255 
			 2006 33 46 48 36 30 5 198 
			 2005 31 47 47 41 21 11 198 
			 2004 30 49 45 43 23 2 192 
			 2003 39 46 35 39 21 1 181 
			 2002 19 36 39 35 25 4 158 
			 2001 19 25 41 38 29 20 172 
			 2000 9 18 27 37 30 30 151 
			 1999 10 23 33 23 24 33 146 
			 1998 11 31 40 42 32 18 174 
			  Notes:  1. Figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at the start of the academic year, ie 31 August) in all schools and colleges 2. Other includes, 'U', 'Near Misses' and 'Absent'.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Disadvantaged

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals who attained level 5 at Key Stage 3 in 2005 did not obtain five GCSEs at grade C or above in 2007;
	(2)  how many pupils not eligible for free school meals who attained level 5 in Key Stage 3 tests in 2005 did not obtain five GCSEs at grade C or above in 2007;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of pupils  (a) entitled to and  (b) not entitled to free school meals who gained level 4 in Key Stage 2 tests in 2004 did not gain level 5 in their Key Stage 3 tests.

Jim Knight: The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Gifted Children

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children have been identified in each local authority as gifted and talented in each year since 2005.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number and proportion of students identified as gifted and talented by maintained primary and secondary schools for each English local authority in 2006 and 2007. National data on gifted and talented pupils has only been collected since 2006.
	
		
			  Maintained primary and secondary schools( 1) : number and percentage of gifted and talented pupils( 2) , position as at summer each year 2006 and 2007, by local authority area and government office region in England 
			2006  2007 
			Maintained secondary schools( 3)  Maintained primary schools  Maintained secondary schools( 3) 
			No of pupils( 2)  No of gifted and talented pupils( 2)  % of gifted and talented pupils( 4)  No of pupils( 2)  No of gifted and talented pupils( 2)  % of gifted and talented pupils( 4)  No of pupils( 2)  No of gifted and talented pupils( 2)  % of gifted and talented pupils( 4) 
			   England( 5) 3,294,710 373,160 11.3 4,137,620 302,850 7.3 3,256,370 425,830 13.1 
			
			   North East( 5) 173,910 19,190 11.0 211,430 17,100 8.1 171,960 20,390 11.9 
			 841 Darlington 6,229 949 15.2 8,865 380 4.3 6,117 1,082 17.7 
			 840 Durham 32,305 3,899 12.1 41,264 3,846 9.3 31,998 3,688 11.5 
			 390 Gateshead 11,689 860 7.4 16,031 1,338 8.3 11,629 816 7.0 
			 805 Hartlepool 6,457 1,034 16.0 9,099 937 10.3 6,571 1,231 18.7 
			 806 Middlesbrough 5,583 580 10.4 13,896 1,033 7.4 5,477 590 10.8 
			 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 16,589 2,040 12.3 19,399 2,041 10.5 16,479 2,211 13.4 
			 392 North Tyneside 13,597 1,428 10.5 16,146 1,177 7.3 13,573 1,156 8.5 
			 929 Northumberland 29,803 1,900 6.4 19,479 1,084 5.6 29,484 2,990 10.1 
			 807 Redcar and Cleveland 10,004 1,559 15.6 13,279 1,125 8.5 9,822 1,490 15.2 
			 393 South Tyneside 9,960 881 8.8 12,547 176 1.4 9,726 1,686 17.3 
			 808 Stockton-on-Tees 12,587 1,823 14.5 17,580 1,135 6.5 12,396 1,479 11.9 
			 394 Sunderland 19,103 2,239 11.7 23,846 2,830 11.9 18,688 1,975 10.6 
			
			   North West( 5) 461,240 61,860 11.2 588,180 42,830 7.3 451,200 58,040 12.9 
			 889 Blackburn with Darwen 9,693 1,165 12.0 14,514 725 5.0 9,624 1,192 12.4 
			 890 Blackpool 8,657 624 7.2 11,690 888 7.6 8,596 967 11.2 
			 350 Bolton 19,561 1,844 9.4 25,642 1,123 4.4 19,129 2,554 13.4 
			 351 Bury 11,819 1,902 16.1 16,095 181 1.1 11,608 1,680 14.5 
			 875 Cheshire 46,741 6,338 13.6 53,568 4,432 8.3 45,924 6,074 13.2 
			 909 Cumbria 35,554 3,255 9.2 39,518 2,304 5.8 35,147 3,685 10.5 
			 876 Halton 8,032 998 12.4 10,074 154 1.5 7,985 905 11.3 
			 340 Knowsley 9,487 650 6.9 15,284 694 4.5 9,061 654 7.2 
			 888 Lancashire 74,879 8,334 11.1 91,872 10,242 11.1 72,907 10,200 14.0 
			 341 Liverpool 31,895 3,161 9.9 37,774 2,653 7.0 30,048 3,995 13.3 
			 352 Manchester 23,435 2,915 12.4 40,931 3,510 8.6 23,086 3,524 15.3 
			 353 Oldham 16,524 1,564 9.5 23,278 955 4.1 16,249 1,761 10.8 
			 354 Rochdale 14,071 2,082 14.8 19,423 928 4.8 13,647 2,044 15.0 
			 355 Salford 11,772 1,624 13.8 19,008 813 4.3 11,327 1,569 13.9 
			 343 Sefton 20,311 1,847 9.1 23,073 1,833 7.9 19,834 1,972 9.9 
			 342 St. Helens 11,776 704 6.0 15,280 1,534 10.0 11,508 885 7.7 
			 356 Stockport 16,351 1,785 10.9 22,918 1,136 5.0 15,970 1,928 12.1 
			 357 Tameside 15,638 1,477 9.4 19,926 1,537 7.7 15,347 2,413 15.7 
			 358 Trafford 16,229 2,229 13.7 19,150 896 4.7 16,170 2,186 13.5 
			 877 Warrington 14,010 1,985 14.2 17,514 1,525 8.7 13,922 2,290 16.4 
			 359 Wigan 20,862 2,451 11.7 25,705 2,324 9.0 20,540 2,222 10.8 
			 344 Wirral 23,940 2,922 12.2 25,939 2,438 9.4 23,575 3,342 14.2 
			
			   Yorkshire and the Humber( 5) 344,320 37,500 10.9 442,930 31,350 7.1 337,320 39,050 11.6 
			 370 Barnsley 13,712 1,595 11.6 20,263 1,217 6.6 13,259 1,516 11.4 
			 380 Bradford 33,947 3,848 11.3 51,866 4,940 9.5 33,705 3,795 11.3 
			 381 Calderdale 15,396 2,207 14.3 18,379 2,038 11.1 15,364 1,814 11.8 
			 371 Doncaster 20,284 2,000 9.9 26,872 2,122 7.9 20,015 1,946 9.7 
			 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 23,444 2,239 9.6 25,760 1,807 7.0 23,264 2,684 11.5 
			 810 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 15,714 1,910 12.2 22,023 2,377 10.8 15,308 1,501 9.8 
			 382 Kirklees 26,524 2,176 8.2 35,718 2,249 6.3 26,362 3,152 12.0 
			 383 Leeds 47,645 3,506 7.4 61,647 3,011 4.9 46,363 4,674 10.1 
			 812 North East Lincolnshire 11,029 1,808 16.4 14,000 881 6.3 10,576 1,778 16.8 
			 813 North Lincolnshire 10,768 1,441 13.4 13,930 713 5.1 10,682 834 7.8 
			 815 North Yorkshire 41,742 4,519 10.8 44,218 956 2.2 41,255 5,253 12.7 
			 372 Rotherham 20,308 2,101 10.3 23,467 2,487 10.6 20,063 2,331 11.6 
			 373 Sheffield 31,393 3,437 10.9 42,520 3,424 8.1 29,171 2,732 9.4 
			 384 Wakefield 22,238 2,708 12.2 29,110 2,285 7.8 21,816 2,565 11.8 
			 816 York 10,173 2,001 19.7 13,159 843 6.4 10,140 2,474 24.4 
			
			   East Midlands( 5) 294,890 34,750 11.8 359,460 24,740 6.9 293,360 37,410 12.8 
			 831 Derby 15,637 1,997 12.8 21,730 2,087 9.6 15,604 2,233 14.3 
			 830 Derbyshire 50,751 5,610 11.1 61,495 2,870 4.7 50,783 6,651 13.1 
			 856 Leicester 17,848 1,873 10.5 28,365 2,834 10.0 17,507 1,953 11.2 
			 855 Leicestershire 46,517 5,766 12.4 47,679 4,536 9.5 46,390 5,684 12.3 
			 925 Lincolnshire 48,246 4,557 9.4 52,403 1,450 2.8 48,399 6,201 12.8 
			 928 Northamptonshire 45,184 6,539 14.5 56,247 3,647 6.5 45,122 6,017 13.3 
			 892 Nottingham 13,578 1,209 8.9 24,239 2,648 10.9 13,365 1,478 11.1 
			 891 Nottinghamshire 54,729 6,915 12.6 64,866 4,472 6.9 53,819 8,758 12.6 
			 857 Rutland 2,402 288 12.0 2,437 194 8.0 2,366 430 18.2 
			
			   West Midlands( 5) 373,960 43,800 11.7 466,100 30,600 6.6 366,840 47,450 12.9 
			 330 Birmingham 70,063 9,641 13.8 101,095 7,211 7.1 69,597 9,982 14.3 
			 331 Coventry 21,045 2,632 12.5 27,039 2,374 8.8 20,735 2,801 13.5 
			 332 Dudley 20,712 2,968 14.3 27,962 2,449 8.8 20,425 2,045 10.0 
			 884 Herefordshire 10,377 740 7.1 12,822 881 6.9 10,133 1,012 10.0 
			 333 Sandwell 19,745 2,894 14.7 30,172 1,960 6.5 19,769 2,956 15.0 
			 893 Shropshire 18,046 1,867 103 21,790 1,702 7.8 17,705 2,065 11.7 
			 334 Solihull 15,493 1,053 6.8 19,495 1,132 5.8 14,131 1,496 10.6 
			 860 Staffordshire 60,645 4,697 7.7 62,845 1,522 2.4 59,671 5,629 9.4 
			 861 Stoke-on-Trent 14,607 2,207 15.1 20,682 1,931 9.3 14,136 2,158 15.3 
			 894 Telford and Wrekin 10,495 1,112 10.6 14,559 1,358 9.3 10,213 1,005 9.8 
			 335 Walsall 20,948 1,931 9.2 25,934 1,933 7.5 20,589 2,370 11.5 
			 937 Warwickshire 34,234 5,326 15.6 40,438 2,879 7.1 34,062 6,738 19.8 
			 336 Wolverhampton 16,905 2,505 14.8 22,723 2,020 8.9 16,603 2,758 16.6 
			 885 Worcestershire 40,648 4,224 10.4 38,541 1,252 3.2 39,087 4,437 11.4 
			
			   East of England( 5) 388,160 37,070 9.5 439,330 31,740 7.2 387,390 45,980 11.9 
			 620 Bedfordshire 37,517 5,036 13.4 25,337 1,493 5.9 37,607 5,334 14.2 
			 673 Cambridgeshire 32,677 2,106 6.4 43,739 2,506 5.7 32,743 3,268 10.0 
			 881 Essex 90,768 8,735 9.6 106,201 9,228 8.7 90,185 10,378 11.5 
			 919 Hertfordshire 79,984 8,201 10.3 91,915 6,051 6.6 79,944 9,989 12.5 
			 821 Luton 12,257 1,458 11.9 18,484 1,547 8.4 12,381 1,872 15.1 
			 928 Norfolk 48,607 4,804 10.3 63,880 4,601 7.2 46,815 5,880 12.6 
			 874 Peterborough 13,115 1,364 10.4 15,356 484 3.2 13,082 1,372 10.5 
			 882 Southend-on-Sea 12,497 1,551 12.4 13,988 2,069 14.8 12,613 2,390 18.9 
			 935 Suffolk 53,903 3,081 5.7 46,445 2,615 5.6 53,990 4,709 8.7 
			 883 Thurrock 8,830 729 8.2 13,981 1,150 8.2 8,034 790 9.8 
			
			   London( 5) 421,170 49,700 11.8 628,960 41,710 6.6 414,780 55,570 13.4 
			   Inner London( 5) 127,090 14,850 11.7 228,290 16,460 7.2 122,650 15,760 12.9 
			 202 Camden 9,884 1,096 11.1 11,432 693 8.1 9,895 1,084 11.0 
			 201 City of London 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 
			 204 Hackney 6,952. 728 10.5 17,805 1,774 10.0 6,573 705 10.7 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 6,791 962 14.2 9,715 849 8.7 5,957 911 15.3 
			 309 Haringey 11,645 1,463 12.6 21,739 1,359 6.3 11,762 1,749 14.9 
			 206 Islington 8,060 1,047 13.0 14,020 1,153 8.2 7,92l 1,184 14.9 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 3,488 535 15.3 6,996 564 8.1 3,484 968 27.8 
			 208 Lambeth 7,972 987 12.4 20,052 1,258 6.3 8,094 1,368 16.9 
			 209 Lewisham 10,949 1,047 9.6 21,951 683 3.1 11,004 1,030 9.4 
			 316 Newham 18,216 2,130 11.7 31,029 2,217 7.1 18,256 1,984 10.9 
			 210 Southwark 10,153 782 7.7 22,538 1,486 6.6 8,327 735 8.8 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 14,307 1,604 11.2 22,447 1,643 7.3 14,357 1,631 11.4 
			 212 Wandsworth 10,317 1,423 13.8 17,461 1,774 10.2 10,382 1,370 13.2 
			 213 Westminster 8,357 1,046 12.5 11,103 1,003 9.0 6,641 1,044 15.7 
			
			   Outer London( 5) 294,080 34,850 11.9 460,670 25,250 6.3 292,130 39,810 13.6 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 12,537 1,385 11.0 18,755 309 1.6 12,428 1,129 9.1 
			 302 Barnet 19,470 2,026 10.4 26,188 947 3.6 19,472 1,887 9.7 
			 303 Bexley 18,290 3,080 18.8 50,510 1,954 9.5 18,276 3,277 17.9 
			 304 Brent 16,321 1,821 11.2 23,200 1,391 6.0 16,479 1,779 10.8 
			 305 Bromley 22,268 3,556 16.0 23,619 1,241 5.3 22,059 3,824 17.3 
			 306 Croydon 18,597 1,346 7.2 29,243 1,080 3.7 18,591 2,024 10.9 
			 307 Ealing 15,143 1,442 9.5 26,659 1,204 4.5 15,309 1,382 9.0 
			 308 Enfield 22,006 3,101 14.1 27,379 1,706 6.2 22,082 4,417 20.0 
			 203 Greenwich 14,391 1,659 11.5 21,490 1,161 5.4 14,142 1,945 13.8 
			 310 Harrow 9,043 895 9.9 19,587 1,104 5.6 9,057 1,187 13.1 
			 311 Havering 16,567 2,437 14.7 19,196 2,581 13.4 16,517 2,529 15.3 
			 312 Hillingdon 16,957 1,886 11.1 24,403 1,468 6.0 16,969 2,165 12.8 
			 313 Hounslow 16,525 1,902 11.5 18,985 1,871 9.9 16,559 2,091 12.6 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 9,536 882 9.2 11,624 914 7.9 9,562 1,283 13.4 
			 315 Merton 8,558 741 8.7 15,491 693 4.5 7,146 785 11.0 
			 317 Redbridge 20,586 2,562 12.4 24,494 2,055 8.4 20,937 2,757 13.2 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 7,133 418 5.9 13,001 1,113 8.6 7,119 911 12.8 
			 319 Sutton 16,089 1,646 10.2 14,823 598 4.0 16,246 2,340 14.4 
			 320 Waltham Forest 14,066 2,067 14.7 22,027 1,861 8.4 13,183 2,096 15.9 
			
			   South East( 5) 512,660 56,290 11.0 626,280 54,760 8.7 511,170 73,230 14.3 
			 867 Bracknell Forest 6,164 691 11.2 8,938 375 4.2 6,221 701 11.3 
			 846 Brighton and Hove 12,125 1,131 9.3 17,123 1,616 9.4 12,167 1,295 10.6 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 35,017 5,090 14.5 40,077 3,915 9.8 34,942 6,696 19.2 
			 845 East Sussex 28,588 3,121 10.9 35,859 4,365 12.2 28,544 3,669 12.9 
			 850 Hampshire 72,611 6,576 9.1 96,096 10,554 11.0 71,742 8,853 12.3 
			 921 Isle of Wight 12,085 969 8.0 6,706 686 10.2 11,996 1,522 12.7 
			 886 Kent 98,477 9,838 10.0 110,133 13,477 12.2 98,426 16,138 16.4 
			 887 Medway 20,389 2,328 11.4 22,160 1,963 8.9 20,211 2,969 14.7 
			 826 Milton Keynes 15,031 1,013 6.7 20,685 1,229 5.9 15,857 1,835 11.6 
			 931 Oxfordshire 37,540 4,977 13.3 46,916 2,581 5.5 37,339 6,399 17.1 
			 851 Portsmouth 9,911 1,147 11.6 13,899 1,958 14.1 9,756 1,018 10.4 
			 870 Reading 6,023 1,455 24.2 10.791 551 5.1 5,476 1,120 20.5 
			 871 Slough 8,914 712 8.0 11,821 696 5.9 9,256 945 10.2 
			 852 Southampton 11,512 1,926 16.7 15,935 1,061 6.7 11,198 1,912 17.1 
			 936 Surrey 59,466 5,171 8.7 78,265 2,574 3.3 59,642 6,640 11.1 
			 889 West Berkshire 12,155 1,916 15.8 12,310 1,325 10.8 12,239 2,024 16.5 
			 938 West Sussex 45,660 5,760 12.6 56,937 4,314 7.6 45,349 6,498 14.3 
			 868 Windsor and Maidenhead 10,211 785 7.7 8,872 472 5.3 10,124 1,227 12.1 
			 872 Wokingham 10,778 1,683 15.6 12,758 1,048 8.2 10,688 1,773 16.6 
			
			   South West( 5) 324,400 43,000 13.3 374,950 28,020 7.5 322,350 4,700 15.1 
			 800 Bath and North East Somerset 12,549 1,726 13.8 12,132 686 5.7 12,451 1,585 12.7 
			 837 Bournemouth 9,880 962 9.7 10,361 893 8.6 9,722 1,969 20.3 
			 801 Bristol, City of 15.459 1,448 9.4 28,988 2,623 9.0 15,136 1,700 11.2 
			 908 Cornwall 32,688 2,973 9.1 38,934 2,753 7.1 32,527 3,430 10.5 
			 878 Devon 43,173 5,583 12.9 53,310 5,212 9.8 42,729 5,803 13.6 
			 835 Dorset 30,048 3,603 12.0 24,654 1,236 5.0 29,989 3,552 11.8 
			 916 Gloucestershire 40,494 5,099 12.6 42,660 2,087 4.9 40,307 5,792 14.4 
			 420 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0.0 274 11 4.0 0 0 0.0 
			 802 North Somerset 12,928 2,336 18.1 14,973 1,312 8.8 12,951 2,669 20.6 
			 879 Plymouth 18,413 2,330 12.7 19,003 1,540 8.1 18,268 3,570 19.5 
			 836 Poole 8,644 1,732 20.0 10,164 628 6.2 8,564 1,651 19.3 
			 933 Somerset 33,060 5,091 15.4 36,214 2,640 7.3 32,450 6,106 18.8 
			 803 South Gloucester 17,047 1,762 10.3 21,594 961 4.5 17,255 2,153 12.5 
			 866 Swindon 11,613 1,733 14.9 16,949 2,130 12.6 11,541 1,653 14.3 
			 880 Torbay 9,128 2,154 23.6 9,754 1,178 12.1 8,972 2,075 23.1 
			 865 Wiltshire 29,277 4,465 15.3 34,990 2,131 6.1 29,483 4,995 16.9 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes pupils with sole and dual (main) registration. (3) Excludes city technology colleges and academies. (4) The number of gifted and talented pupils expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils. (5) National figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. (6) Secondary school data has been collected since 2006, Data on primary schools since 2007.  Source: School Census

Languages: General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of pupils entered for Chinese GCSE were of Chinese ethnicity;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of pupils entered for a foreign language GCSE were pupils with English as an additional language.

Jim Knight: The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Languages: General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils were entered for a modern language GCSE in 2007, broken down by local authority.

Jim Knight: A table showing the number and proportion of pupils entered for a modern language GCSE in 2007, broken down by local authority, has been placed in the Library. Information on GCSE and equivalent results can be found in the SFR GCSE and Equivalent Examination Results in England 2006/07 (Revised), available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000768/index.shtml.

Literacy: Greater London

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of children met the Government's literacy and numeracy targets in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: Tables 1 and 2 provide the information requested on the percentage of pupils achieving national curriculum level 4 or above at key stage 2 in English and in mathematics; and level 5 or above in English and in mathematics at key stage 3. Level 4 is the level expected to be reached by pupils at the end of key stage 2 (i.e. about age 11), and level 5 is that expected by pupils at the end of key stage 3 (at age 14). There are no targets for the current comprehensive spending review that relate to literacy and mathematics at key stage 4 (i.e. when pupils take GCSEs and equivalent qualifications). However, the information on the percentage of pupils achieving five or more higher grades at GCSE including English and mathematics in each London borough is published and is included in table 3.
	Information on the number of pupils achieving the target levels in each local authority is not available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Percentage of pupils attaining level 4 or better at the end of key stage 2 for each London authority, 2003 to 2007 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007( 1) 
			  LA name  English  Maths  English  Maths  English  Maths  English  Maths  English  Maths 
			 Barking and Dagenham 71 69 73 71 75 70 74 73 77 76 
			 Barnet 81 78 84 81 84 81 85 82 85 82 
			 Bexley 77 69 79 71 80 74 81 75 84 79 
			 Brent 77 72 78 74 78 73 79 73 80 75 
			 Bromley 83 78 83 78 84 77 85 79 84 78 
			 Camden 78 74 77 73 79 73 75 72 78 76 
			 City of London 97 79 80 73 83 74 64 71 96 96 
			 Croydon 78 71 79 74 78 72 81 75 81 75 
			 Ealing 77 73 78 73 79 75 79 75 80 78 
			 Enfield 78 72 77 73 77 73 79 72 78 75 
			 Greenwich 70 67 70 68 73 68 74 71 73 72 
			 Hackney 63 59 70 65 69 64 71 64 73 66 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 79 76 77 73 79 74 81 74 81 78 
			 Haringey 67 66 70 67 73 68 75 70 76 74 
			 Harrow 82 77 84 80 82 78 85 79 82 79 
			 Havering 80 78 81 78 85 81 84 80 84 81 
			 Hillingdon 80 75 79 77 80 77 81 77 82 77 
			 Hounslow 76 73 77 73 79 75 80 77 79 77 
			 Islington 69 68 71 68 74 68 74 68 77 74 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 84 79 87 82 84 81 85 80 87 83 
			 Kingston upon Thames 83 77 85 80 86 82 86 82 85 81 
			 Lambeth 72 67 76 70 76 68 78 70 77 71 
			 Lewisham 73 69 73 70 77 72 79 71 76 74 
			 Merton 75 66 75 72 78 74 81 75 79 77 
			 Newham 68 67 71 70 75 72 76 72 75 73 
			 Redbridge 78 74 79 77 83 79 82 78 84 81 
			 Richmond upon Thames 87 82 87 83 88 85 89 85 88 84 
			 Southwark 70 62 69 64 72 67 74 69 76 72 
			 Sutton 81 77 80 76 83 78 83 79 85 82 
			 Tower Hamlets 74 71 77 75 78 76 80 78 81 78 
			 Waltham Forest 70 68 73 69 73 69 77 72 76 75 
			 Wandsworth 75 67 75 71 80 72 78 73 80 77 
			 Westminster 80 77 82 77 81 76 84 76 83 77 
			 National average 75 73 78 74 79 75 79 76 80 77 
			 (1) Amended figures following publication of the Primary Achievement and Attainment Tables in December 2007. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 : Percen tage of pupils attaining level 5  or better at the end of key stage  3  for each London authority, 2003 to 2007 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007( 1) 
			  LA name  English  Maths  English  Maths  English  Maths  English  Maths  English  Maths 
			 Barking and Dagenham 62 61 65 65 66 66 67 70 70 69 
			 Barnet 73 76 78 78 82 80 81 82 79 80 
			 Bexley 71 73 75 77 76 74 74 77 78 77 
			 Brent 64 66 70 72 73 74 74 76 70 73 
			 Bromley 73 76 80 77 80 79 80 82 83 80 
			 Camden 68 65 73 70 76 72 75 76 77 73 
			 City of London   
			 Croydon 66 68 70 72 75 71 73 74 73 75 
			 Ealing 68 69 73 72 75 72 73 76 74 75 
			 Enfield 67 68 70 71 72 72 71 74 74 73 
			 Greenwich 61 61 63 60 67 63 68 68 67 66 
			 Hackney 59 52 59 56 60 58 64 65 69 69 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 62 67 64 67 73 73 77 77 74 76 
			 Haringey 52 55 59 58 65 62 61 64 65 65 
			 Harrow 71 75 76 77 82 79 80 81 78 78 
			 Havering 72 76 81 79 80 81 79 81 77 81 
			 Hillingdon 65 73 71 74 74 73 70 76 75 75 
			 Hounslow 71 68 70 71 76 71 76 77 74 76 
			 Islington 49 57 55 59 64 61 61 64 63 64 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 79 72 80 76 81 76 87 84 87 81 
			 Kingston upon Thames 79 80 80 83 80 83 84 84 85 84 
			 Lambeth 61 62 69 66 71 65 72 71 69 72 
			 Lewisham 60 60 64 64 66 65 70 70 68 70 
			 Merton 65 67 66 68 75 71 67 71 75 73 
			 Newham 55 60 63 62 67 66 64 68 68 67 
			 Redbridge 75 76 78 79 82 80 81 83 79 81 
			 Richmond upon Thames 74 72 77 75 75 73 80 79 76 79 
			 Southwark 51 52 63 58 66 59 66 65 66 65 
			 Sutton 75 79 83 82 84 82 86 87 80 84 
			 Tower Hamlets 54 55 57 58 67 61 65 68 62 65 
			 Waltham Forest 60 62 68 66 74 67 70 71 68 68 
			 Wandsworth 62 63 68 67 73 70 71 73 71 73 
			 Westminster 69 65 68 68 76 69 69 74 66 74 
			 National average 69 71 71 73 74 74 73 77 74 76 
			 (1) 2007 provisional figures shown. 2007 amended figures not yet available. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Percentage of pupils attaining five or more GCSEs, including English and mathematics, at grades C and above for each London authority, 2003 to 2007 
			   Result 
			  LA name  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Barking and Dagenham 31.8 31.5 33.6 37.6 39.2 
			 Barnet 49.6 51.7 52.6 55.5 59.3 
			 Bexley 42.2 44.2 45.5 50.2 49.7 
			 Brent 40.1 41.9 467 48.8 49.5 
			 Bromley 48.3 48.6 51.3 54.0 55.3 
			 Camden 40.1 42.8 40.6 45.3 45.1 
			 City of London  
			 Croydon 36.0 37.6 40.4 42.4 44.1 
			 Ealing 39.6 39.4 45.9 48.2 49.0 
			 Enfield 38.3 40.5 42.3 42.8 47.4 
			 Greenwich 26.4 29.5 34.0 31.3 33.9 
			 Hackney 26.5 32.1 34.2 36.4 41.3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 42.6 42.1 46.6 48.9 57.8 
			 Haringey 28.8 31.1 32.2 34.2 37.1 
			 Harrow 47.4 49.7 49.8 53.3 56.0 
			 Havering 49.8 51.0 49.7 54.5 53.6 
			 Hillingdon 36.2 37.1 38.7 43.3 44.4 
			 Hounslow 40.4 42.5 46.1 50.7 50.2 
			 Islington 22.5 28.9 29.9 32.2 37.0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 45.1 45.6 52.5 53.9 56.4 
			 Kingston upon Thames 58.4 54.8 59.6 58.6 61.3 
			 Lambeth 30.1 37.2 37.3 41.4 41.1 
			 Lewisham 30.1 32.4 37.1 40.7 40.4 
			 Merton 36.0 36.1 38.3 39.4 39.7 
			 Newham 34.2 37.6 40.3 41.1 44.1 
			 Redbridge 54.9 55.6 56.0 59.0 61.2 
			 Richmond upon Thames 48.2 47.9 46.5 49.5 47.7 
			 Southwark 26.3 28.7 31.4 34.2 38.3 
			 Sutton 56.3 58.7 59.4 62.7 64.7 
			 Tower Hamlets 25.5 28.1 30.2 33.5 36.3 
			 Waltham Forest 34.5 33.4 36.5 38.7 42.0 
			 Wandsworth 37.1 38.4 41.4 41.6 46.6 
			 Westminster 37.1 36.1 37.8 40.5 45.6 
			 National average 41.9 42.7 44.3 45.3 46.0

Mandarin: Teachers

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary teachers have a degree level qualification in Mandarin Chinese.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Mandarin: Teachers

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers are teaching Mandarin Chinese.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not available centrally.

Pre-School Education

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many three and four-year-old children are entitled to free nursery places in each local authority area; how many such places are available in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 25 January 2008
	Since April 2004 all three and four-year-olds have been entitled to a free part-time early education place for 12.5 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year. From 2010, this offer will be extended from 12.5 to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year.
	Information about the part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four-year-olds has been placed in the House Library.
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release (SFR) 19/2007 Provision for children under five years of age in England: January 2007, available on the Department's website:
	www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/

Pre-School Education: Tyne and Wear

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many free nursery places have been provided in Houghton and Washington, East constituency in the last 10 years.

Beverley Hughes: Information about the part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four-year-olds is shown in the tables.
	
		
			  Part-time equivalent number of free early education places( 1,2,3)  filled by three and four-year-oldsHoughton and Washington, East parliamentary constituency area  position in January each year 
			   3 - year - olds  4 - year - olds 
			   maintained nursery and primary schools( 4)  other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers( 5)  total 3 - year - olds  maintained nursery and primary schools( 6)  other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers( 7)  total 4 - year - olds 
			 2004 710 120 830 840 40 880 
			 2005 740 130 870 860 40 900 
			 2006 760 100 850 850 40 890 
			 2007 750 130 880 830 40 870 
			 (1) A place is equal to five or more sessions and can be filled by more than one child. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000 and to the nearest 10 otherwise. (3) Prior to 2004, information on early education places was derived from returns made by local authorities as part of the Nursery Education Grant (NEG) data collection exercise. These data were collected at local authority level, therefore, data for this parliamentary constituency prior to 2004 is not available. (4) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (5) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. (6) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (7) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. 
		
	
	
		
			  Part-time equivalent number of free early education places( 1,2)  filled by three and four-year-oldsSunderland local authority areaposition in January each year 
			   3-year-olds  4-year-olds 
			   maintained nursery and primary schools( 3)  other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers  total 3-year-olds  maintained nursery and primary schools( 4)  other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers  total 4-year-olds 
			 1997 2,400 n/a 2,400 n/a n/a (5,6)3,700 
			 1998 2,300 n/a 2,300 n/a n/a (5,6)3,600 
			 1999 2,300 n/a 2,300 n/a n/a (5,6)3,400 
			 2000 2,600 (7)340 2,900 n/a n/a (5,6)3,400 
			 2001 2,400 (7)400 2,800 n/a n/a (5,6)3,300 
			 2002 2,400 (7)860 3,300 3,100 (5)160 3,200 
			 2003 2,400 (7)370 2,800 3,000 (8)150 3,200 
			 2004 2,300 (9)400 2,700 3,000 (10)160 3,100 
			 2005 2,300 (9)370 2,700 2,800 (10)150 3,000 
			 2006 2,300 (9)370 2,700 2,700 (10)140 2,800 
			 2007 2,300 (9)390 2,700 2,800 (10)140 2,900 
			 n/a = not available. (1) A place is equal to five or more sessions and can be filled by more than one child. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000 and to the nearest 10 otherwise. (3) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (4) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. 5. Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise. (6) For the years 1997-2001, four-year-old sub national figures from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise can not be disaggregated between the maintained and private, voluntary and independent sectors. (7) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise. (8) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census supplementary data collection exercise and the School Census. (9) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. (10) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. 
		
	
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release (SFR) 19/2007 Provision for children under five years of age in England: January 2007, available on my Department's website:
	www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/.

Pupil Exclusions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary pupils received a (i) permanent exclusion and (ii) temporary exclusion in the last 10 years, broken down by age.

Kevin Brennan: The readily available information relates to the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions by age across primary, secondary(1 )and special schools and is published annually by the Department. From the 2003/04 school year the figures can be found in the Statistical First Release 'DCSF: Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusions from Schools and Exclusion Appeals in England', the latest of which can be accessed at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000733/index.shtml
	Figures for 2002/03 were published in the Statistical First Release 'Permanent Exclusions from Maintained Schools' available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000535/index.shtml
	Figures for 2001/02 and earlier were published in the Statistical Bulletin: 'Permanent Exclusions from Maintained Schools', which can be accessed at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SBU/b000427/index.shtm
	Equivalent publications are available for earlier years.
	Information on fixed period exclusions is only available from 2003/04 onwards; and in 2005/06 the available information relates to secondary schools only.
	Copies of tables showing the number of exclusions by age have been placed in the House Library.
	(1) Excludes city technology colleges and academies.

Pupil Exclusions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what information his Department collects on the proportion of excluded pupils from families in each income decile; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Pupil Exclusions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what proportion of pupils were given  (a) permanent and  (b) fixed period exclusions in schools with (i) less than 10 per cent. free school meals pupils, (ii) more than 10 per cent. free school meals pupils and (iii) more than 30 per cent. free school meals pupils;
	(2)  how many  (a) school action and  (b) school action plus special educational needs pupils were given a fixed period exclusion in the last 12 months;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of school action plus pupils were persistent truants in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by local authority.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Pupil Exclusions: Easington

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children were excluded from schools in Easington constituency in each year since 2004.

Kevin Brennan: The available information is provided in the tables.
	
		
			  Maintained primary and secondary schools( 1) : Number of permanent exclusions 2003/04 to 2005/06Easington parliamentary constituency 
			   Permanent exclusions( 2) 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 2003/04 16 0.13 
			 2004/05 17 0.14 
			 2005/06 13 0.11 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Figures are as reported by schools.  Source: School Census 
		
	
	
		
			  Maintained primary and secondary schools( 1) : Number of fixed period exclusions 2003/04 to 2005/06Easington parliamentary constituency 
			   Primary schools  Secondary schools 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 2003/04 51 0.67 684 (2)14.15 
			 2004/05 76 1.03 596 (2)12.43 
			 2005/06 n/a n/a 458 (3)9.52 
			 n/a = Not available (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Data on fixed period exclusions have been sourced from the Termly Exclusions Survey. (3) Data on fixed period exclusions have been sourced from the School Census. In 2005/06 fixed period exclusions are available for secondary schools only.  Source: Termly Exclusions Survey and School Census

Pupils: Offensive Weapons

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what guidance his Department provides on procedures for dealing with  (a) guns,  (b) knives and (c) other weapons after they have been confiscated by teachers from students;
	(2)  what guidance his Department has given to  (a) schools and  (b) teachers on their powers to confiscate weapons from students;
	(3)  how many  (a) guns,  (b) knives and  (c) other weapons have been confiscated by teachers from (i) primary school students and (ii) secondary school students in each of the last 12 months;
	(4)  how many teachers in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools have confiscated (i) guns, (ii) knives and (iii) other weapons from pupils in each of the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: We have issued guidance to school staff on how to comply with the law when they screen pupils at random or search, without consent, a pupil whom they suspect has a weapon. Our guidance includes advice on the power to seize anything that could be used as an offensive weapon and states that any suspected illegal weapon, once seized after a search or screening, must be delivered to the police as soon as is reasonably practical. The guidance, 'Screening and Searching of Pupils for Weapons: Guidance for School Staff'(May 2007) is at
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/healthandsafety/schoolsecurity/.
	We do not collect data on the confiscation of weapons by school staff.

School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what methodology his Department and the Schools Food Trust use to access the take-up of school meals in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: Since 2006, the School Food Trust (SFT) has undertaken an annual survey of all local authorities, which has asked them to provide information about school lunch take-up, both primary and secondary, in their area.
	School lunch take-up is now included in the local government National Indicator Set and is an indicator for PSA 12 of the 2007 Comprehensive spending review ('improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people'). Following these developments, the Department is working with the Trust to develop a standard methodology for collecting school lunch take-up information for future SFT surveys. We will shortly be consulting key stakeholders before making a final decision on that future methodology.

Schools: Catering

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many maintained mainstream schools do not have school kitchens.

Jim Knight: The Government do not collect this information. However, in its second annual survey of take-up of school meals in England (published in September 2007) the School Food Trust reported that 22.3 per cent. of primary schools and 0.8 per cent. of secondary schools did not have facilities for food preparation.

Schools: Fire Extinguishers

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools have been fitted with fire sprinkler systems in accordance with the guidance in Building Bulletin 100: Design for Fire Safety in Schools; and how many planned new schools are to be fitted with such sprinklers.

Jim Knight: We do not keep information on the details of new school designs. However it is our policy is that all new primary and secondary schools will have fire sprinklers installed. Therefore all schools designed after the introduction of our new policy in February 2007 should have sprinkler systems, apart from a few cases where the new schools are at a very low risk of fire and where sprinklers would not represent good value for money.

Schools: Hearing Impaired

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) maintained and  (b) independent schools for deaf and hearing-impaired pupils there were in each year since 1997; and how many places were provided in each category in each such year.

Kevin Brennan: The numbers of maintained and independent schools that have statutory provision for deaf and hearing impaired pupils are given in the following tables. The number of places provided in these schools is not collected centrally.
	
		
			  Table A: Maintained schools 
			   First priority  Second priority  Third priority  Total 
			 1997 10 5 0 15 
			 1998 10 5 0 15 
			 1999 10 5 0 15 
			 2000 10 5 0 15 
			 2001 8 4 0 12 
			 2002 7 4 0 11 
			 2003 7 4 0 11 
			 2004 7 7 0 14 
			 2005 7 6 1 14 
			 2006 7 4 1 12 
			 2007 8 4 1 13 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B :  Independent schools 
			   First priority  Second priority  Third priority  Total 
			 1997 13 1 0 14 
			 1998 13 1 0 14 
			 1999 13 1 0 14 
			 2000 13 1 0 14 
			 2001 15 1 0 16 
			 2002 15 1 0 16 
			 2003 '14 1 0 15 
			 2004 14 1 0 15 
			 2005 14 1 0 15 
			 2006 14 5 0 19 
			 2007 14 4 0 18

Schools: Sefton

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what per pupil funding was in Sefton in each year since 1993 in  (a) real and  (b) cash terms; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The per pupil revenue funding figures for years 1997-98 to 2005-06, for Sefton local authority are shown in the following table. Comparable figures are not available for 1993-94 to 1996-97.
	
		
			   
			   Cash  Real 
			 1997-98 2,367 2,943 
			 1998-99 2,498 3,029 
			 1999-2000 2,655 3,156 
			 2000-01 2,936 3,440 
			 2001-02 3,167 3,624 
			 2002-03 3,384 3,755 
			 2003-04 3,644 3,930 
			 2004-05 3,868 4,060 
			 2005-06 4,139 4,254 
			  Notes: 1. Price Base: The real terms figures are at 2006-07 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 26 September 2007 2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of standard spending assessment/education formula spending (EFS) settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC. 3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged three to 19 and exclude education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level. 4. The pupil numbers used to convert m figures to per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC three-year-old maintained pupils and estimated three to four-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers. 5. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest . 6. Figures are provided in both cash and real terms. 
		
	
	The revenue per pupil figures shown in the following table is taken from the dedicated schools grant (DSG) which was introduced in April 2006. They are not comparable with those for the years 1997-98 to 2005-06 because the introduction of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded.
	The 1997-98 to 2005-06 figures are based on education formula spending (EPS) which formed the education part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, plus various grants. The DSG is based on planned spend. In addition, the DSG has a different coverage to EFS, which comprises a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's Local Government Finance Settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	
		
			  Per pupil revenue funding figures for years 2006-07 to 2007-08 for Sefton local authority 
			   
			   Cash  Real 
			 2006-07 4,195 4,195 
			 2007-08 4,458 4,341 
			  Notes: 1. The revenue funding per pupil figures only run to 2005-06 because we cannot provide a consistent time series beyond that year as the introduction of the dedicated schools grant (DSG) in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded. The 1997-98 to 2005-06 figures are based on education formula spending (EFS) which formed the education part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, plus various grants. This was an assessment of what local authorities needed to fund education rather than what they spent. In 2006-07 funding for schools changed with the introduction of the DSG which is based largely on an authority's planned spend. 2. In addition, DSG has a different coverage to EFS: EFS comprised a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's Local Government Finance Settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. This means we have a break in our time series as the two sets of data are not comparable. 3. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal.

Schools: Sefton

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much capital funding has been allocated to Sefton council for new school facilities in addition to standard capital allocations in each year since 1993; and how much of such funding has been allocated to Formby.

Jim Knight: The Department has maintained a central record of capital allocations to local authorities since 1996-97. Capital funding allocated to Sefton during the period 1996 to 2008, excluding that allocated as capital formula funding to the local authority and direct to schools, is set out in the following table:
	
		
			million 
			 1996-97 0 
			 1997-98 1.0 
			 1998-99 1.7 
			 1999-2000 4.1 
			 2000-01 5.6 
			 2001-02 3.8 
			 2002-03 6.9 
			 2003-04 4.5 
			 2004-05 0.5 
			 2005-06 3.6 
			 2006-07 7.3 
			 2007-08 23.1 
			 Total 62.1 
		
	
	The 23.1 million allocation in 2007-08 is for a one school pathfinder project.
	The Department does not keep records of the amount allocated to Formby, as this is determined by the local authority in accordance with priorities set out in its asset management plan.
	During the period 1996-97 to 2007-08 a total of 149.5 million has been allocated to Sefton, including formula funding. A further 55.5 million is planned to be allocated in the period 2008-09 to 2010-11. Local authorities and schools are able to use their formula funding either to improve existing facilities, or to construct additional facilities.

Schools: Work Experience

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his policy is on work experience at schools.

Jim Knight: The Education Act 2002 introduced from September 2004 an entitlement for all pupils to a programme of work related learning at Key Stage 4 (14 to 16-year-olds). Work related learning may be provided in a number of ways, including through work experience. It is Government policy that young people should participate in work experience at Key Stage 4. 95 per cent. of young people do so and there is good evidence that the vast majority of them and the employers that provide the places enjoy and value their experience. A minimum of 10 days work-experience will be a requirement of Diplomas.

Science: General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of  (a) mainstream maintained,  (b) specialist science and  (c) independent schools entered students into separate GCSEs for physics, biology and chemistry in 2007.

Jim Knight: The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost, however, the number of pupils entered into separate GCSEs for physics, biology and chemistry by type of school have been given as follows.
	
		
			  Number and percentage of 15-years-olds taking biology, chemistry and physics by school type in 2006/07 
			   Mainstream maintained schools  Independent schools  Specialist science schools  All schools 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Biology 38,759 6.50 15,797 32.50 9,673 13.00 54,711 8.30 
			 Chemistry 36,866 6.20 14,648 30.10 9,575 12.90 51,522 7.80 
			 Physics 36,728 6.20 14,474 29.80 9,544 12.90 51,210 7.80 
			 All three separate sciences 36,076 6.10 12,535 25.80 9,524 12.80 48,613 7.40 
			 Total number of 15-year-olds 594,849  48,648  74,205  657,582

Science: General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of pupils in  (a) maintained and  (b) independent schools took all three separate science GCSEs in 2007;
	(2)  how many pupils sat all three separate science GCSEs in 2007.

Jim Knight: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number and percentage of 15-years-olds taking biology, chemistry and  p hysics by school type in 2006-07 
			   Maintained Schools  Independent Schools  All Schools 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Biology 38,768 6.40 15,797 32.50 54,711 8.30 
			 Chemistry 36,869 6.10 14,648 30.10 51,522 7.80 
			 Physics 36,730 6.10 14,474 29.80 51,210 7.80 
			 All three separate sciences 36,078 6.00 12,535 25.80 48,613 7.40 
			 Total number of 15-year-olds 604,898   48,648 657,582

Special Educational Needs

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many pupils with statements of special educational need are recorded as attending  (a) maintained special schools,  (b) maintained mainstream schools and  (c) other educational settings broken down by category of special educational need;
	(2)  how many pupils in  (a) maintained and  (b) independent schools have a diagnosis of autism;
	(3)  how many pupils with autism attend  (a) maintained special schools,  (b) maintained mainstream schools and  (c) other educational settings, broken down by category of special need;
	(4)  how many statements of special educational need were issued in respect of children  (a) with autism and  (b) recorded as deaf and having impaired hearing in each year for which figures are available;
	(5)  how many and what proportion of deaf and hearing-impaired pupils are recorded as having  (a) special educational needs with a statement,  (b) special educational needs without a statement and  (c) no special educational needs.

Kevin Brennan: Type of special education need is only collected for pupils with statements of SEN and at School Action Plus within maintained mainstream and special schools and non-maintained special schools. This information is not collected for pupils in independent schools or pupils at School Action.
	The available information has been placed in the Library and can be found in table 9 of SFR Special Educational Needs in England: January 2007, which is available on the Department's website here:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000732/index.shtml

Special Educational Needs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of children in  (a) England and  (b) each local authority were (i) statemented and (ii) on School Action Plus in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The available information on statemented pupils and those on School Action Plus is shown in the tables that have been placed in the Library. School Action Plus data are only available from 2002.
	The information is collected for the Statistical First Release 'Special Educational Needs in England: January 2007' which is published annually and can be accessed at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000732/index.shtml

Special Educational Needs: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent on children with  (a) special educational needs,  (b) dyslexia and  (c) dyspraxia in (i) Ribble Valley constituency and (ii) Lancashire county council area in each of the last 10 years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested is as follows.
	 (a) The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local authority areas, rather than districts within an area. Ribble Valley is a district of Lancashire local authority. The information for Lancashire LA about the amount spent on children with special educational needs is as follows:
	
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with special educational needs by Lancashire local authority: 2000-01 to 2007-08 
			   Budgeted net expenditure on the education of children with special educational needs( 1,2)  by Lancashire LA ()( 3) 
			 2000-01 79,766,000 
			 2001-02 82,826,000 
			 2002-03 86,666,000 
			 2003-04 99,347,000 
			 2004-05 106,320,000 
			 2005-06 109,113,000 
			 2006-07 118,120,000 
			 2007-08(4) 128,721,000 
			 (1) Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to nursery, primary and secondary schools identified as notional SEN and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools. (2) The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against notional SEN are only indicative of the amount that might by spent by schools on SEN. In 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 Lancashire LA also budgeted 13.2 million, 8.8 million and 14.5 million respectively for SEN transport expenditure but this is not included in the table as figures are not available prior to 2005-06. (3) Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000 and may not sum due to rounding. (4) 2007-08 data is subject to change by the local authority.  Notes: 1. Cash terms figures as reported by Lancashire local authority as at 22 January 2008. 2. The data are drawn from Lancashire local authority's Section 52 Budget Statements (Tables 1 and 2) submitted to the DCSF (formally the DfES). 
		
	
	 (b) and  (c) The Department does not collect separate figures on how much was spent on dyslexia or dyspraxia.

Specialised Diplomas: Rural Areas

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether secondary schools in rural areas will be required to provide access to all 17 diploma lines; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Diplomas will be taught by consortia of schools, colleges, and work-based learning providers, working in partnership with the local authority and employers. As such, not every secondary school will be providing each diploma itself, but young people from those schools will be able to access diplomas in other consortium institutions, including in rural areas.

Sure Start Programme: Females

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what services are provided by the Sure Start programme to prevent or respond to violence against women.

Beverley Hughes: Information on services provided by Sure Start Children's Centres to prevent or respond to violence against women is not available centrally. All Sure Start Children's Centres offer as a minimum outreach services to families at risk of social exclusion; health and family support services, help with employment and training, advice and information for parents, and centre based activities for children and families. Family support services will be tailored to respond to needs in the local area and we encourage children's centres to ensure that parents or other family members experiencing domestic violence have access to appropriate support. Other family support services, such as structured parenting programmes, may contribute to prevention of domestic abuse. A focussed study 'Sure Start Local Programmes and Domestic Abuse' carried out as part of the National Evaluation of Sure Start, published in July 2007, found that Sure Start Local Programmes had developed a good awareness of issues of domestic violence and use their responsibility to address the needs of children at risk to develop innovative and effective methods of informing and supporting their communities around the dangers of domestic abuse. A summary and the full report is available on the Sure Start website at:
	http://www.surestart.gov.uk/publications/?Document= 1927

Sure Start Programme: Manpower

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what was the average staff complement of a Sure Start centre in each of the last five years; what proportion of Sure Start centre staff had qualifications accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority at  (a) level 6,  (b) level 3 and  (c) level 1 or 2 only over the period; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 25 January 2008
	Information on the workforce in Sure Start local programmes (SSLPs) and Sure Start children's centres over the last five years is not available. However the 2006 Childcare and Early Years Provider Survey estimated that there were approximately 10,500 staff working in full day care provision in children's centres, of which 9,370 were paid staff and 1,150 were unpaid staff. The average number of paid staff per setting was 14. 9 per cent. of paid staff working in full day care provision in children's centres held a level 6 qualification as their highest level qualification, 62 per cent. held a level 3 qualification and 12 per cent. held a level 1 or level 2 qualification.
	Sure Start children's centres, and before them SSLPs, were set up to offer a range of integrated services for young children and families, delivered by statutory, private and voluntary and independent sector agencies working together. SSLPs had flexibility to decide, following consultation with local families, which activities to provide around a core of health, family support, play and learning, and outreach and home visiting services to meet local priorities and needs. Staffing levels therefore varied considerably. Sure Start children's centres offer a minimum level of service including outreach services to families at risk of social exclusion; health and family support services, help with employment and training, advice and information for parents, and some centre based activities for children and families. Centres serving the most disadvantaged communities provide more intensive support and must additionally provide integrated early learning and full day care for children under five. Any centre offering integrated early education and full day care must employ a graduate with qualified teacher status. Over the longer term we expect all centre managers will follow the National Professional Qualification for Integrated Centre Leadership, all staff working through children's centres will be qualified to level 2, level 3 if they are working directly with children and that volunteers will be trained or mentored by qualified staff.

Teachers: Criminal Investigation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether any criminal allegations have been made against teachers acting in their capacity as such in the London borough of Havering in the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Teachers: Sign Language

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what standard of British Sign Language attainment is required of teachers of the deaf;
	(2)  what comparative assessment he has made of the educational progress of deaf children taught using British Sign Language and those taught using total communication.

Kevin Brennan: Where qualified teachers wish to specialise in teaching children with a sensory impairment, including a hearing impairment, they must obtain an additional mandatory qualification (MQ). The current specification for MQ courses includes the expectation that participants successfully completing the MQ for teachers of pupils with hearing impairment should have a minimum competence in signing, equivalent to the CACDP (Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People) Stage 1 qualification. The Training and Development Agency for Schools is currently reviewing the MQ specification, which has included detailed consultation with the approved MQ providers and a range of other interested parties. The Department has made no comparative assessment of the educational progress of deaf children taught using British Sign Language and those taught using total communication.

Teaching: Hearing Impaired

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what research his Department has commissioned on effective teaching for deaf and hearing impaired pupils in the last 10 years;
	(2)  what guidance his Department gives to local authorities on the placement of deaf and hearing-impaired children.

Kevin Brennan: In July 1998, the then Department for Education and Employment commissioned a review of the literature on the educational achievements of deaf children and young people. While the report suggested that deaf and hearing impaired learners do lag behind their hearing peers in their achievements in mathematics and reading it also found that the presence of additional child difficulties, language used in the home and socio-economic status, appear to be more stable predictors of exam success than the degree of hearing loss. The report also found that in many studies, degree of hearing loss itself does not correlate with educational achievement. In those studies where there is a relationship between the two, the correlation may well be attributable to other, latent factors. However, the Government are committed to narrowing the attainment gap between deaf children and their peers. We are currently working with the National Deaf Children's Society and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People to improve the availability of data in order to establish an accurate picture of this attainment gap and take steps to reduce it.
	Regarding guidance the Department gives to local authorities on the placement of deaf and hearing-impaired children, the SEN code of practice provides practical advice to all local authorities, maintained schools, early education settings and others on carrying out their statutory duties to identify, assess and make provision for children's special educational needs. All these parties are required to have regard to the code.

Teenage Pregnancy Unit

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  whether the Teenage Pregnancy Unit has responsibility to develop measures to combat, or respond to, incidents of violence against women;
	(2)  what research the Teenage Pregnancy Unit has conducted into the proportion of pregnant teenagers who are victims of  (a) rape and  (b) domestic violence.

Beverley Hughes: The Teenage Pregnancy Unit in the Department does not have responsibility to develop measures to combat, or respond to, incidents of violence against women generally. This is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
	No research has been commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families specifically into the proportion of pregnant teenagers who are the victims of rape and domestic violence. However, we know from research that the Teenage Pregnancy Unit in the Department has done those teenagers experiencing coercive and exploitative relationships are at much greater risk of early pregnancy. That is why in 'Teenage Pregnancy Next Steps: Guidance for Local Authorities and Primary Care trusts on Effective Delivery of Local Strategies' published by DFES in 2006 we emphasised that LAs should have mechanisms in place to identify the young woman most at risk of such relationships and early pregnancy.

Truancy: Fines

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many parents have been fined for failing to ensure their children attend school in each of the last 12 months; what the total amount of fines for each of these months was; and what the  (a) maximum and  (b) minimum fine was.

Kevin Brennan: The information is not available in the form requested.
	The Department collects data on the number of penalty notices issued by local authorities to parents in respect of the offence of failing to ensure regular school attendance. The latest available data (for the school year 2006-07) show that 14,625 parents were issued with penalty notices. The penalty is 50 if paid within 28 days rising to 100 if paid after 28 days but within 42 days.
	The Ministry of Justice also collects data on the number of parents prosecuted under sections 444(1) and 444(1A) (the aggravated offence of parents knowing that their children are not attending school regularly) of the Education Act 1996. In 2006, there were 2,952 parents who received fines from the courts after being found guilty of the offence. We do not collect information on the amount of the fines imposed by the courts.

Young People

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department has taken pursuant to the conclusions of the March 2007 European Council on the further development of policies to promote the role of young people during their transition from school to working life.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The conclusions of the March 2007 European Council are consistent with the considerable work we are doing domestically to help young people with their transition from school to working life and prepare them to succeed in work and to make a productive contribution to society.
	Some of the key measures we are taking forward domestically are: a new set of employer-designed diplomas, providing a platform to acquire all the skills needed for successful employment, the Personal, Social and Health Education framework giving teachers a coherent structure within which to develop children's social and moral development and integrated information, advice and guidance and access to personal development opportunities for all 13 to 19-year-olds to help remove barriers to learning and progression and ensure that young people make a smooth transition to adulthood and working life.

PRIME MINISTER

Chequers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Prime Minister which individuals he has invited to Chequers to meet him in his capacity as Prime Minister since 27 June 2007.

Gordon Brown: Information for 2007-08 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the financial year.

China

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions he held with the Chinese Government on Burma on his recent trip to China;
	(2)  what discussions he held with the Chinese Government on Sudan on his recent trip to China.

Robert Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with the Government of China during his recent visit to that country on the political situation in Burma.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave the hon. Members for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) and for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) on 25 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2280W.

Departmental E-mail

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1229W, on departmental e-mail, how many email accounts he has for official purposes.

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1229W, on departmental e-mail, whether he uses an e-mail account to send e-mail to civil servants and ministerial colleagues in the course of his duties.

Gordon Brown: I am in regular contact with ministerial colleagues and civil servants either directly or through my office.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what percentage of Freedom of Information requests received by his Office have given rise to responses that have been published by his Office.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr. Watson) today.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Prime Minister how many  (a) press and  (b) communications officers the Prime Minister's Office employed in each of the last 10 years.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Members for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) and for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 15 October 2007,  Official Report, column 819W.
	For previous years, I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my predecessor the right hon. Tony Blair on 30 November 2006,  Official Report, columns 895-96W, and 22 March 2004,  Official Report, columns 559-60W.

Interception of Communications Commissioner

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the timetable is for the publication of the annual report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner for 2006; and if he will make it his policy to publish such reports within 28 days of receipt;
	(2)  what the timetable is for the production of the annual report of the Intelligence Services Commissioner for 2006; and if he will make it his policy to publish such reports within 28 days of receipt.

Gordon Brown: I refer the right hon. Member to the written statement I made on 28 January,  Official Report, column 3-4WS.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to answer the letter to him dated 10 December 2007 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on police pay.

Gordon Brown: I replied to my right hon. Friend today.

Ministerial Powers

Peter Bone: To ask the Prime Minister what the contingency arrangements are for  (a) leadership of the Government and  (b) control of the UK nuclear deterrent in circumstances of the unforeseen incapacity or death of the Prime Minister; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 September 2007,  Official Report, column 2103W.

TREASURY

Capital Gains Tax: Housing

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely effect of his capital gains tax proposals on the second homes housing market.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Carmarthen, East and Dinefwr (Adam Price) on 25 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 2339-40W.

Care Homes: Stamp Duties

Lembit �pik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will review the levels of stamp duty charged on care home leases; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether there is an upper limit to the level of stamp duty which may be levied on individual care home leases; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the relationship between the cost of residential care home provision and the level of stamp duty levied on care home leases; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Stamp duty land tax on the grant of a new lease is charged separately on any premium and on the rent payable under the lease. The charge on the rent is 1 per cent. of the amount by which the discounted net present value of the rent payable exceeds the stamp duty land tax threshold. Stamp duty land tax on the premium is based on the amount of premium paid. Details of stamp duty land tax rates and thresholds can be found at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/so
	No assessment has been made of the relationship between the cost of residential care home provision and the levels of stamp duty land tax levied on care home leases. But stamp duty land tax, like all other taxes, is kept under constant review as part of the Budget process.

Crown Lands and Estates: Wind Power

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what income the Crown Estate derived from wind powered electricity generating installations situated offshore in each financial year since 2001-02.

Angela Eagle: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Year end  Revenue  () 
			 2001-02 2,500 
			 2002-03 2,500 
			 2003-04 4,260 
			 2004-05 181,000 
			 2005-06 386,000 
			 2006-07 721,000

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Browne: To ask Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many  (a) press and  (b) communications officers his Department employed in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how much his Department paid in bonuses to press and communication officers in each of the last 10 years; and what the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest such bonus was in each of those years.

Angela Eagle: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EU Budget

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms are used to gain parliamentary approval to transfer funds from the UK to the EU each year.

Angela Eagle: United Kingdom contributions to the EC budget are made by virtue of the European Communities (Finance) Act 2001.

Landfill Tax

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the landfill tax escalator is revenue-neutral in relation to local authorities.

Angela Eagle: I can confirm that the costs of landfill tax, including the increase in the landfill tax escalator, were taken into account when agreeing the local government settlement.

Local Government: Pay

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional funding has been allocated to  (a) local authorities in England and  (b) Scotland under the Barnett formula for the costs of dealing with Single Status matters.

Yvette Cooper: No additional funding has been made available in England in the form of grants from central Government specifically for Single Status implementation. All financial pressures on local authorities are taken into account when deciding the financial settlement for local government in spending reviews. Local authorities in England have been given permission to capitalise expenditure on the implementation of Single Status agreements. In 2006-07 the amount capitalised for this purpose was 121.1 million. In 2007-08 capitalisation directions totalling 500 million have been issued to local authorities, but actual use of these directions will be published in summer 2008.
	No additional Departmental Expenditure Limit funding has been made available to the Scottish Executive under the Barnett formula, because no additional funding for Single Status implementation was made available to English local authorities. The funding of local authorities in Scotland is a devolved matter within the framework of the UK public expenditure system.

Personation

Martin Horwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1054W, on personation, if he will make an assessment of the potential risk of identity theft arising from tax-related correspondence between HM Revenue and Customs and members of the public.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC utilises a variety of means to both send and receive information to and from its customers. Each of these processes has specific procedures to ensure that customer information is protected securely. Risks are assessed on a regular basis.
	Kieran Poynter is conducting an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures and his interim report was published on 17 December and is available in the Library of the House. He is expected to consider the need for any further procedural changes in his final report which is due in the first half of 2008.

Tax Credit: Members

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent guidance has been issued to staff in the Tax Credit Office on deadlines for responding to letters from hon. Members.

Jane Kennedy: No updated guidance has been issued recently.
	It has always been the aim of the Tax Credit Office to reply to the majority of letters from hon. Members within three weeks. Following the administrative issue I referred to in my statement of 25 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 62-63WS, some parts of HMRC's tax credits business have been subject to delays, but HMRC are continuing to make progress to recover that position.

Tax Rates and Bands: Low Incomes

Greg Pope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the removal of the 10 per cent. tax band on low income working people who do not qualify for working tax credits;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the removal of the 10 per cent. tax band on pensioners who do not qualify for pension credits;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the removal of the 10 per cent. tax band on people earning less than 18,750 per annum.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 18 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 1268-70W.

Taxation

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what comparative assessment he has made of the treatment received under the taxation regime by married couples with children and single people without children.

Jane Kennedy: The principle of independent taxation means each individual has his or her own allowances and income tax rate bands. Levels of financial support in the tax credit system are determined by the level of need, and do not favour any particular household composition.

Taxation: Plastic Bags

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of HM Treasury's 2002 document, Plastic Bag Tax Assessment.

Angela Eagle: A copy of the assessment has been available in the Library since 2004.

JUSTICE

Restorative Justice Programmes

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect of restorative justice programmes on public confidence in the criminal justice system.

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of restorative justice programmes in increasing public confidence in the criminal justice system.

David Hanson: No specific assessment has been made. But research on the Crime Reduction Programme Restorative Justice pilots found, among other things, that victims and offenders who had taken part in the restorative justice conferences were more satisfied than control group participants with how the criminal justice system generally handled their case.

Restorative Justice Programmes

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to increase the use of reparative measures within the criminal justice system.

Maria Eagle: Restorative justice, including reparative measures, is an important way of ensuring victims of crime and society in general has increased confidence in our criminal justice system. Many disposals provide for the delivery of this; for example, through financial compensation and unpaid work in the community. Conditional cautions are a relatively new way of doing this5,300 have been issued since April 2005. About four in five include some form of reparation from compensation and apologies to repairing criminal damage. The compliance rate is about 6 per cent. It is up to the courts and prosecutors, as appropriate, to determine the most suitable disposal in each particular case.

Clearsprings Support Service

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he has taken to ensure that there is no risk to public safety from offenders and defendants accommodated in ClearSprings' bail and accommodation support service.

David Hanson: The Government have public protection as their highest priority. Sex offenders and others who pose a significant risk are excluded from the ClearSprings service. The courts decide whether a defendant can be bailed into the service. The only sentenced prisoners released into the service are on home detention curfew.

Wills

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will review the law relating to the publication of wills; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Section 124 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 states that where a grant of probate has been issued in respect of a will, both the grant and the will are open to public inspection unless the court directs otherwise. These documents may be inspected at the Principal Registry of the Family Division in London or at one of the District Probate Registries where the grant was issued. I have no plans to review the law in this area.

Data Protection

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to bring forward proposals to strengthen the protection of personal data held by public authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: My Department will launch a consultation early in 2008 on proposals to strengthen the Data Protection Act 1998. This includes measures to enable the Information Commissioner to inspect public sector organisations without prior consent; new penalties for the most serious breaches of the Data Protection Act and proposals for funding the Commissioner's Office to carry out the work.

Crime: Bail

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what arrangements his Department has put in place to prevent crime being committed by suspects granted bail.

David Hanson: The Bail Act 1976 gives power to the courts to impose bail conditions to prevent offending on bail. These include exclusion from specified areas, not to approach witnesses or curfew at the home address.
	In addition we have provided a number of options for the courts to choose from when imposing conditions. These include tagging to enforce a curfew, bail accommodation, with support, and in certain areas a requirement to undergo a drugs assessment.

House of Lords Reform

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to bring forward proposals for a substantially elected House of Lords.

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to bring forward proposals for a substantially elected House of Lords.

Jack Straw: I am leading cross-party talks, taking forward the outcome of last year's free votes in this House for a wholly- or mainly-elected second Chamber. In due course, the Government intend to publish a White Paper reflecting these talks.

Chelmsford Prison

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the conclusions of HM Inspector of Prisons' report on Chelmsford prison on suicides; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: I would like to thank the Chief Inspector of Prisons for her report about Chelmsford prison.
	The Prison Service will produce an action plan in around two months which will respond in detail to each of the Chief Inspector's recommendations, setting out the action required and the timescale.
	As the Chief Inspector herself has pointed out, the proportion of her recommendations which are accepted is over 95 per cent.

Community Sentences

Marsha Singh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to improve public perception of the effectiveness of community sentences.

David Hanson: Confidence in community sentences is increasing. A three year PR campaign has raised the profile of community sentences, using innovative ideas such as local radio disc jockeys undertaking community order requirements on air. A new campaign is being launched using TV, internet and print to focus particularly on how effective community sentences can be. In the last 10 years the number of community sentences has increased by 44 per cent.

Community Justice Courts

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether there are plans to increase the numbers of community justice courts across the country.

Maria Eagle: The Government want to work towards making community justice the way in which local justice is provided in all our courts. Therefore, we have set up 13 community justice courts across England and Wales, one of which is in Birmingham, with a view to test the concept fully. The problem solving approach to tackling the causes of offending has shown promise in boosting community confidence in the Criminal Justice System and reducing re-offending.
	We are taking the lessons learned from these projects and will be working during 2008 to help the magistrates courts improve engagement and involvement with the communities they serve.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to contribute to reductions in UK carbon dioxide emissions.

Bridget Prentice: My Department is committed to reducing its carbon emissions in line with the Sustainable Operations in Government Estate targets. In addition, we have produced our own Sustainable Development Action Plan which clearly defines how the Department will deliver reduced carbon emissions and lead by example.

Approved Premises: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many residential units maintained by ClearSprings under the Bail Accommodation and Support Service there are in Peterborough constituency for  (a) individuals on bail,  (b) ex offenders and  (c) those subject to home detention curfew; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: There are four properties in Peterborough leased by ClearSprings for the Bail Accommodation and Support Service. On 23 January there were two defendants on bail and four offenders released on home detention curfew in these properties. The scheme is available only to those on bail or home detention curfew.

Corston Report

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding has been allocated to the implementation of the Corston Report's recommendations that have been accepted; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Government's response to the Corston report published on 6 December 2007 highlights where additional funding has already been identified for new initiatives to take forward the recommendations and sets out a number of ways in which provision and services will be improved and made more appropriate for women. We have accepted 40 out of the 43 recommendations and implementation of many of the commitments will be possible within the resources already identified for providing more effective interventions and services for offenders.

Court of Protection

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the average length of time taken by the Court of Protection to deal with an application in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Since the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) on 1 October 2007 we have received 4,871 applications to the Court of Protection. In the same period the court has issued 3,163 orders although many of these will have been for applications on legacy cases and received prior to 1 October 2007.
	Where an application to the court requires an oral hearing the Court of Protection aims to list it to be heard within 15 weeks and all cases received since 1 October are within this target. Where there is no hearing required the Court of Protection aims for customers to have received a direction within 21 weeks and new cases are broadly in line with this target.
	These are the maximum time limits and allow for the serving of papers by the parties involved and the submission of their evidence. Cases can be dealt with more speedily than this if these processes do not take the full time allowed for them under the court's rules. However, targets assume that parties will take the full time available to them to serve papers and provide further evidence. There is also a process to allow for interim directions to be made during this period if a judge feels it is appropriate.
	There are delays due to high volumes with some legacy cases although every effort is being made to identify urgent cases and deal with them as a priority. We have provided additional resources to the court team in December and again in January and expect the backlog of legacy applications to have been cleared by the end of February.
	It is impossible at this stage to give an average time for completing an application as the new structure has not been in place for 21 weeksour main target for issuing directions. We will of course be able to provide fuller information later in the year when we have the data to work with.

Departmental Accountancy

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what items of his Department's  (a) revenue and  (b) expenditure are uprated using (i) the consumer prices index, (ii) the retail prices index and (iii) other measures of inflation.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice has a limited number of revenue raising contracts, negotiated within its 'Wider Markets' initiative, to make appropriate use of public assets. These contracts have been negotiated with suitable commercial provisions, which may include indexation in some cases. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it is not possible to disclose the terms of the contracts.
	The Ministry of Justice has a wide range of expenditure contracts for goods and services.
	Where commercially appropriate, indexation is negotiated when the contract is awarded. This generally applies where contracts are over a longer time scale, provide a consistent or repeated service or commodity, or a service with a significant manpower element.

Departmental Recycling

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what weight of paper his Department recycled in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: The Ministry of Justice was established in May 2007 and has so far recycled approximately 30,000 kgs of white paper, 95,000 kgs of mixed paper and 11,000 kgs of cardboard. This is the approximate equivalent of 6,260 trees.

Departmental Reorganisation

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he will publish the review of Ministry of Justice structures.

Jack Straw: I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement which I have made today.

Driving Offences: Convictions

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on sentencing policy on the offence of causing death by careless driving.

David Hanson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor has not received any representations specifically on sentencing policy on the offence of causing death by careless driving. We have, however, received letters from MPs, road safety campaigners and members of the public on the draft sentencing guideline published on 9 January by the Sentencing Guideline Council (SGC). The guideline covers two existing offences of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs, plus two new offences (yet to be implemented) of causing death by careless driving and causing death by driving when unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured.
	The guidelines are currently subject to consultation with the Government, the Justice Select Committee and other interested parties. We are considering the guidelines carefully and will respond in due course. The consultation period ends in March and should lead to publication of a definitive guideline later in the year.

Electoral System

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the issues raised in the recently published review of electoral systems will form a part of the Governance of Britain consultation process.

Michael Wills: The purpose of the review was to consider the experience of new voting systems introduced in the United Kingdom since 1997, to contribute to the existing knowledge of voting systems in the United Kingdom. As set out in the written ministerial statement on 24 January 2008,  Official Report, column 61WS, the Government consider that at this point, it would be premature to discuss reforms to the electoral system for the Commons while the voting system for a reformed and substantially or fully elected House of Lords is still to be determined. Good progress is being made on the cross-party talks on Lords reform and the Government intend to publish a White Paper in the first part of 2008 reflecting the outcome of these discussions.

Fines: Surcharges

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much money accrued via the victim surcharge introduced in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 has been  (a) used directly or indirectly for the purposes of victim support and  (b) has remained with the Treasury; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: At the end of November 2007, some 1.5 million had been raised from the collection of the victims surcharge since its introduction on 1 April 2007. All the money is being used to support victims of crime and witnesses. None is being passed to the Treasury. Details of how the money is being used were given in my answers of 4 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1190W, to the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Dunne), and 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 96W, to the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies).

Incapacity Benefit: Appeals

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1422W, on incapacity benefits, how many appeals lodged against the Incapacity Benefit Personal Capability Assessment were upheld in each year between 2000 and 2006.

Bridget Prentice: From April 2000 until March 2006 308, 691 appeals were lodged against an incapacity benefit personal capability assessment. Of those lodged, 123,192 decisions were upheld.
	
		
			  April to March each year  Lodged  Upheld 
			 2000-01 40,771 19,333 
			 2001-02 47,473 17,773 
			 2002-03 53,131 20,303 
			 2003-04 56,514 22,037 
			 2004-05 54,578 20,437 
			 2005-06 56,224 23,309

Members: Correspondence

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford's letter of 3 December 2007 on a constituent, reference: 182611/3702.

Jack Straw: I wrote to the hon. Member on 28 January 2008. I apologise for the delay.

National Offender Management Information System

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely consequences of not rolling out C-NOMIS to the Probation Service;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the implications of any decision not to roll-out C-NOMIS to the Probation Service.

David Hanson: In its work to analyse the different options available going forward, the Strategic Review requested to consider the affordability of the NOMIS Programme, actively considered and assessed the implications of not rolling out C-NOMIS to probation areas.
	Work is under way on the newly revised and deliverable NOMIS Programme announced after the completion of the review, to asses the way forward for probation case management systems, and where necessary, replace those that are most at risk. In addition, to improve the sharing of information between prisons and probation, and to further support the successful implementation of the Offender Management Model and public protection, work has started on both the OASys project to improve the current separate risk assessment systems and to re-develop them as a single national system, and the Data Share project to allow access to core case information between prison and probation areas.
	I expect the programme to meet the objectives that were set following the Strategic Review to:
	Enable improved business continuity by replacing ailing legacy case management and offender assessment applications in public prisons and probation;
	Enable more efficient and effective operational management of offenders;
	Support offender management processes and thereby reduce reoffending and enhance public protection;
	Provide supplier neutral information to support Commissioners; and
	Provide improved management information to enable improved performance.

National Offender Management Information System

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the estimated maximum capacity of the C-NOMIS system will be in each of the next 10 years.

David Hanson: There is no maximum capacity in C-NOMIS. While the programme has estimated a total of 5 million records will be added to C-NOMIS in the next 10 years, this will be kept under constant review to allow officials to ensure that there will always be sufficient capacity in C-NOMIS to ensure the successful running of the system.

National Offender Management Information System

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what has been the cost of the C-NOMIS project to date; and what the estimated cost is of national implementation of C-NOMIS.

David Hanson: The total expenditure on the NOMIS programme, of which C-NOMIS forms the very major part, to the end of December 2007 is estimated at 179 million. The estimated lifetime cost of the NOMIS programme to 2019-20 before VAT, cost of capital and depreciation is 513 million.
	Financial and business benefit from work completed on C-NOMIS is preserved. Nearly all of the expenditure attributable to C-NOMIS is relevant to its future use in HMPS as 'Prison NOMIS'. The other projects in the programme will continue to derive benefit from the investment and work to date.

National Offender Management Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the planned budget is in 2010-11 for  (a) the central administration,  (b) probation element and  (c) prisons of the National Offender Management Service.

David Hanson: The allocation of planned budgets for 2010-11 between these three areas has not yet been decided.

National Probation Service for England and Wales: ICT

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the efficiency of existing legacy IT systems used by the Probation Service; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Working within the terms of reference of the C-NOMIS Strategic Review, an assessment of the seven NFS legacy case management systems in use in the 42 probation areas was completed in September 2007. This identified a small number of areas where existing case management systems are failing and in urgent need of replacement, and a range of issues associated with CRAMS (the system in use in most probation areas) including obsolete software and hardware, and compliance with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.
	A plan of works is in place to implement Delius, a system already used in some areas, where required as an urgent replacement during 2008-09, and to upgrade or replace CRAMS during 2009-10.

Open Prisons

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prisoners convicted for  (a) robbery and  (b) grievous bodily harm were transferred to open prisons in 2007;
	(2)  how many prisoners convicted for  (a) a violent offence and  (b) actual bodily harm were transferred to open prisons in 2007;
	(3)  how many prisoners were detained in open prisons in England and Wales on the most recent date for which figures are available, broken down by prison establishment.

David Hanson: Information on the transfer of prisoners within the prison estate of establishments within England and Wales is not held centrally and to collect it would require extensive manual inspection of records.
	The number of prisoners detained in open prisons in England and Wales at the end of November 2007, the latest date for which figures are available, can be found in the following table:
	
		
			  Prison  Number of prisoners 
			  Open prisons  
			 Askham Grange 110 
			 Drake Hall 307 
			 East Sutton Park 97 
			 Ford 471 
			 Hewell Grange 186 
			 Hollesley Bay 325 
			 Kirkham 506 
			 Leyhill 402 
			 Moorland Open 246 
			 North Sea Camp 276 
			 Spring Hill 322 
			 Standford Hill 437 
			 Sudbury 545 
			 Thorn Cross 214 
			 Usk/Prescoed 380 
			   
			  Closed prisons with open units  
			 Morton Hall 366 
			 Norwich 532 
			 Reading 263 
			 Wealstun 855 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Personal Injury

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the impact of referral fees on the personal injury claims process; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to publish the responses to the consultation on case track limits and the claims process for personal injury claims; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to my answer of 24 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2208W.

Powers of Attorney: Elderly

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what timing targets have been set for the Office of the Public Guardian to respond to  (a) correspondence and  (b) requests for an interim order to enable assets of an elderly person to be handled.

Bridget Prentice: The targets set for the Office of the Public Guardian and Court of Protection are set out in the Service Standards booklet which is available from the Office of the Public Guardian website.
	The Office of the Public Guardian's commitment is to respond to 95 per cent. to correspondence (including letters, faxes and e-mails) within 15 working days of receipt.
	The Office of the Public Guardian does not have a separate service standard in respect of requests for an interim order to enable assets of an elderly person to be handled but we would expect to place any request for interim directions before a Court of Protection Judge within 10 days of receipt.

Prison Accommodation

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the planned capacity of the prison estate in England and Wales is in each year to 2014.

Jack Straw: The following table shows the current projected useable operational capacity of the prison estate in December of each year from 2008 to 2014.
	
		
			  Year (December)  Useable operational capacity( 1) 
			 2008 84,800 
			 2009 86,200 
			 2010 91,300 
			 2011 93,300 
			 2012 93,800 
			 2013 93,800 
			 2014 96,300 
			 (1) Nearest 100.

Prisoners

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average amount of time spent doing exercise each week by  (a) young offenders and  (b) adult prisoners was in each prison in the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: The average weekly physical education and recreational sports activity per prisoner for each establishment during 2006-07 and 2007-08 (provisional to December) is shown in the following table. Data are not available to differentiate between adults and young offenders for those establishments that hold both.
	These figures do not include any other time that prisoners may take exercise.
	Prison rule (No. 29) requires that
	If circumstances reasonably permit, a prisoner aged 21 years or over shall be given the opportunity to participate in physical education for at least one hour a week.
	The reality is that some adult prisoners choose not to participate in PE.
	The table of figures in the answer has been calculated using the total (average) prison population for each establishmentnot the number of prisoners that actually participate, which significantly reduces the average figure for those that choose to participate. Data are not available to show the levels of participation at each establishment.
	Participation is subject to a number of factors including the type of prisoner held, the facilities available and personal choice.
	
		
			 Average weekly PE and recreational sport hours per prisoner 
			  Type  Establishment name  Establishment type  2006-07  2007-08( 1) 
			 Adult Acklington Category C 1.56 2.20 
			 Adult Albany Category B 2.06 2.79 
			 Adult Altcourse Male Local 3.78 3.75 
			 Adult Ashwell Category C 4.96 5.21 
			 Adult Askham Grange Female Open 0.72 1.72 
			 Adult Bedford Male Local 1.84 1.98 
			 Adult Belmarsh Male Local 1.58 1.38 
			 Adult Birmingham Male Local 1.40 1.46 
			 Adult Blakenhurst Male Local 2.81 2.08 
			 Adult Blantyre House Semi Open 3.61 3.92 
			 Adult Blundeston Category C 3.22 4.10 
			 Adult Bristol Male Local 1.59 1.52 
			 Adult Brixton Male Local 0.32 0.99 
			 Adult Brockhill Category C 2.24 4.34 
			 Adult Bronzefield Female Local 2.13 3.51 
			 Adult Buckley Hall Category C 2.42 2.24 
			 Adult Bullingdon Male Local 2.14 2.32 
			 Adult Bullwood Hall Category C 0.88 1.39 
			 Adult Camp Hill Category C 2.28 2.14 
			 Adult Canterbury Category C 4.08 4.31 
			 Adult Cardiff Male Local 1.50 1.52 
			 Adult Channings Wood Category C 1.02 1.89 
			 Adult Chelmsford Male Local 3.16 2.53 
			 Adult Coldingley Category C 1.76 2.09 
			 Adult Cookham Wood Female Closed 0.51 1.01 
			 Adult Dartmoor Category C 1.83 2.00 
			 Adult Doncaster Male Local 1.73 1.76 
			 Adult Dorchester Male Local 2.45 2.84 
			 Adult Dovegate Category B 2.41 1.93 
			 Adult Downview Female Closed 2.93 2.67 
			 Adult Drake Hall Semi Open 1.95 2.80 
			 Adult Durham Male Local 1.64 1.76 
			 Adult East Sutton Park Female Open 0.19 0.10 
			 Adult Eastwood Park Female Local 0.50 0.85 
			 Adult Edmunds Hill Category C 2.08 2.48 
			 Adult Elmley Male Local 1.76 1.80 
			 Adult Erlestoke Category C 2.33 2.63 
			 Adult Everthorpe Category C 2.37 2.49 
			 Adult Exeter Male Local 1.83 1.90 
			 Adult Featherstone Category C 2.55 2.50 
			 Adult Ford Male Open 3.85 3.90 
			 Adult Forest Bank Male Local 8.85 9.98 
			 Adult Foston Hall Female Closed 0.76 1.79 
			 Adult Frankland Dispersal 2.09 2.25 
			 Adult Full Sutton Dispersal 2.76 2.86 
			 Adult Garth Category B 2.20 1.98 
			 Adult Gartree Category B 2.12 1.71 
			 Adult Gloucester Male Local 1.67 2.20 
			 Adult Grendon Category B 1.38 1.81 
			 Adult Guys Marsh Category C 2.56 3.08 
			 Adult Haverigg Category C 3.25 2.74 
			 Adult Hewell Grange Male Open 3.67 4.99 
			 Adult High Down Male Local 1.53 1.73 
			 Adult Highpoint Category C 1.58 1.87 
			 Adult Hollesley Bay Male Open 3.26 3.33 
			 Adult Holloway Female Local 2.06 2.25 
			 Adult Holme House Male Local 1.88 2.22 
			 Adult Hull Male Local 1.29 1.41 
			 Adult Kennet Category C n/a 5.58 
			 Adult Kingston Category B 2.92 3.92 
			 Adult Kirkham Male Open 4.21 3.63 
			 Adult Kirklevington Semi Open 3.15 2.80 
			 Adult Lancaster Category C 3.54 3.17 
			 Adult Latchmere House Semi Open 3.44 1.49 
			 Adult Leeds Male Local 1.08 1.16 
			 Adult Leicester Male Local 2.66 3.02 
			 Adult Lewes Male Local 2.13 1.97 
			 Adult Leyhill Male Open 3.63 4.49 
			 Adult Lincoln Male Local 1.27 0.90 
			 Adult Lindholme Category C 2.77 2.92 
			 Adult Littlehey Category C 2.21 2.05 
			 Adult Liverpool Male Local 1.33 1.42 
			 Adult Long Lartin Dispersal 2.45 3.31 
			 Adult Low Newton Female Local 1.03 1.63 
			 Adult Lowdham Grange Category B 2.78 1.57 
			 Adult Maidstone Category C 1.66 1.60 
			 Adult Manchester Male Local 1.19 1.09 
			 Adult Moorland Category C 3.76 3.98 
			 Adult Morton Hall Semi Open 2.61 3.10 
			 Adult Mount Category C 1.94 2.24 
			 Adult New Hall Female Local 1.63 1.85 
			 Adult North Sea Camp Male Open 3.25 4.17 
			 Adult Norwich Male Local 1.27 1.98 
			 Adult Nottingham Male Local 2.66 2.50 
			 Adult Onley Category C 3.51 3.33 
			 Adult Parc Male Local 0.36 2.91 
			 Adult Parkhurst Category B 2.02 1.92 
			 Adult Pentonville Male Local 0.92 1.29 
			 Adult Peterborough Male Local 3.25 1.25 
			 Adult Preston Male Local 2.36 2.09 
			 Adult Ranby Category C 2.97 2.91 
			 Adult Risley Category C 2.26 1.99 
			 Adult Rye Hill Category B 2.07 1.88 
			 Adult Send Female Closed 1.99 1.51 
			 Adult Shepton Mallet Category C 1.85 1.95 
			 Adult Shrewsbury Male Local 1.56 1.54 
			 Adult Stafford Category C 3.07 3.32 
			 Adult Standford Hill Male Open 1.55 1.80 
			 Adult Stocken Category C 3.71 2.02 
			 Adult Styal Female Local 2.10 2.14 
			 Adult Sudbury Male Open 3.37 3.14 
			 Adult Swaleside Category B 2.19 2.59 
			 Adult Swansea Male Local 1.56 2.46 
			 Adult Usk/Prescoed Category C 2.15 2.28 
			 Adult Verne Category C 2.09 1.58 
			 Adult Wakefield Dispersal 1.72 1.92 
			 Adult Wandsworth Male Local 1.29 1.58 
			 Adult Wayland Category C 3.16 3.97 
			 Adult Wealstun Category C 2.60 2.48 
			 Adult Wellingborough Category C 1.86 2.24 
			 Adult Whatton Category C 2.39 2.56 
			 Adult Whitemoor Dispersal 2.34 2.01 
			 Adult Winchester Male Local 1.57 1.92 
			 Adult Wolds Category C 2.34 2.14 
			 Adult Woodhill Male Local 1.68 1.50 
			 Adult Wormwood Scrubs Male Local 1.97 1.43 
			 Adult Wymott Category C 1.70 1.90 
			 Juvenile Ashfield Male Juvenile 4.05 3.50 
			 Juvenile Huntercombe Male Juvenile 3.88 5.62 
			 Juvenile Warren Hill Male Juvenile 3.31 3.04 
			 Juvenile Werrington Male Juvenile 4.20 3.84 
			 Juvenile Wetherby Male Juvenile 3.46 3.58 
			 Young Offender Aylesbury Male Closed YOI 3.47 3.65 
			 Young Offender Brinsford Male Closed YOI 2.87 2.61 
			 Young Offender Castington Male Closed YOI 3.22 2.65 
			 Young Offender Deerbolt Male Closed YOI 3.44 3.98 
			 Young Offender Feltham Male Closed YOI 4.25 3.43 
			 Young Offender Glen Parva Male Closed YOI 2.63 2.71 
			 Young Offender Hindley Male Closed YOI 3.11 3.88 
			 Young Offender Lancaster Farms Male Closed YOI 2.88 2.54 
			 Young Offender Northallerton Male Closed YOI 3.34 3.40 
			 Young Offender Portland Male Closed YOI 2.62 2.20 
			 Young Offender Reading Male Closed YOI 3.14 3.27 
			 Young Offender Rochester Male Closed YOI 1.90 2.79 
			 Young Offender Stoke Heath Male Closed YOI 4.54 3.38 
			 Young Offender Swinfen Hall Male Closed YOI 3.67 3.52 
			 Young Offender Thorn Cross Male Open YOI 7.30 8.04 
			 (1) Provisional year to datesubject to ongoing validation.

Prisoners: Foreigners

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to designate additional prisons for foreign nationals only.

David Hanson: There are currently no plans to designate a third prison solely for foreign nationals although the use of the estate is kept under regular review.

Prisoners: Taxis

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much the Prison Service has spent on taxis for prisoners in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: Taxis are not routinely used for transporting prisoners to and from court or for inter-prison transfers. However, they are used for a variety of individual and short-notice journeys for prisoners, subject to risk assessment, where prison or other transport is not available and where it is cost-effective to do so. This can include journeys for medical treatment where an ambulance is not appropriate, urgent transfers between prisons, and travel to work or community placements where there is no suitable public transport. Taxi fares are normally paid through an account and the costs of journeys undertaken by prisoners cannot be identified separately from official journeys undertaken by staff.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the role of dedicated search teams in prison establishments.

Maria Eagle: The aim of Dedicated Search Teams is to reduce the risk posed by prisoners held in high security prisons.
	Dedicated Search Teams were a recommendation made by Sir John Woodcock following the escape of six prisoners from the Special Secure Unit at Whitemoor prison in September 1994, which the then Home Secretary accepted in full. Recommendation 9 stated:
	The Lakes/Hadfield proposal for dedicated and specially equipped search teams in prisons holding Category A inmates should be mandatory. Such teams should have available to them on a regular basis dogs trained to identify firearms, explosives and drugs.
	All Directorate of High Security establishments are funded for Dedicated Search Teams consisting of 2 x Senior Officers and 12 x Officers.
	The aim of Dedicated Search Teams is ultimately to reduce the risk posed by prisoners held in Directorate of High Security Estate establishments. These prisoners, many of whom are Category A, would represent a significant risk to the public should they escape.
	All staff joining Dedicated Search Teams attend a one week course at PSC Newbold Revel where they receive intensive search training. The search training was developed to ensure that:
	The Prison Service was equipped to manage the threat of firearms and explosives entering establishments
	Establishments were able to search items held in possession by prisoners by specialist search teams who would provide a higher level of assurance to prison management that possessions did not conceal illicit items, particularly firearms and explosives
	Establishments were able to conduct offensive searches in response to intelligence suggesting escape planning, etc.
	Establishments were able to plan and execute full lock down searches in response to intelligence suggesting escape planning, etc.
	Dedicated Search Teams are also used to bolster security at Crown courts where Category A prisoners are appearing by conducting pre trial 'search and seal exercises'.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) prisoner on prisoner and  (b) prisoner on officer assaults were recorded in each year since 2002, broken down by prison establishment; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is set out in the tables and subject to important qualifications. The Prison Service Incident Reporting System processes high volumes of data which are constantly being updated. The numbers provide a good indication of overall numbers but should not be interpreted as absolute.
	Assault data are complex and may include threatening behaviour, projection of bodily fluids and other non-contact incidents. Information on assault incidents may involve more than one assaulter or more than one victim. In a proportion of incidents only the victim is known.
	Assault information is recorded at establishment level in four categories: Prisoner on Prisoner, Prisoner on Officer, Prisoner on Other and Other. Recording of assaults on prison officers sometimes includes assaults on other prison staff.
	
		
			  (a) Prisoner on Prisoner 
			  Prison name  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007( 1) 
			 Acklington 49 39 33 38 73 65 
			 Albany 3 5 15 3 4 (2) 
			 Altcourse 163 159 183 194 195 223 
			 Ashfield 429 271 304 500 625 650 
			 Ashwell 8 9 15 17 9 17 
			 Askham Grange 1  1  1 1 
			 Aylesbury 44 26 21 78 80 76 
			 Bedford 49 44 49 41 55 36 
			 Belmarsh 60 76 67 53 51 25 
			 Birmingham 90 105 139 103 117 105 
			 Blakenhurst 271 256 192 149 151 212 
			 Blantyre House1   
			 Blundeston 36 39 26 14 15 33 
			 Brinsford 281 304 326 344 187 184 
			 Bristol 107 84 100 95 85 72 
			 Brixton 130 120 106 73 38 56 
			 Brockhill 23 25 19 28 20 8 
			 Bronzefield   37 92 113 98 
			 Buckley Hall 45 72 76 62 57 36 
			 Bullingdon 59 40 36 59 45 68 
			 Bullwood Hall20 16 10 
			 Camp Hill 47 67 51 54 55 (2) 
			 Canterbury 9 5 12 15 13 19 
			 Cardiff 46 50 53 50 47 25 
			 Castington 363 312 384 361 360 383 
			 Channings Wood 12 21 22 38 53 52 
			 Chelmsford 60 62 82 68 105 32 
			 Coldingley 2  16 7 18 11 
			 Cookham Wood 7 12 7 2 4 5 
			 Dartmoor 25 20 11 29 26 25 
			 Deerbolt 154 167 205 164 152 159 
			 Doncaster 87 39 77 94 144 124 
			 Dorchester 9 13 11 19 18 31 
			 Dovegate 40 56 73 66 66 54 
			 Downview 13 6 14 29 25 11 
			 Drake Hall 3 13 7 9 6 18 
			 Durham 65 59 79 89 146 126 
			 East Sutton Park   3
			 Eastwood Park 14 23 31 51 47 15 
			 Edmunds Hill  47 26 23 27 25 
			 Elmley 88 84 104 134 100 123 
			 Erlestoke 6 10 26 26 22 35 
			 Everthorpe 9 5 20 42 65 69 
			 Exeter 37 37 26 34 35 24 
			 Featherstone 60 51 54 69 70 90 
			 Feltham 459 569 576 549 476 425 
			 Ford 7 2 20 17 6 6 
			 Forest Bank 304 308 397 430 339 213 
			 Foston Hall 17 19 26 26 23 28 
			 Frankland 15 21 18 24 26 31 
			 Full Sutton 8 15 27 37 44 50 
			 Garth 36 23 27 59 63 64 
			 Gartree 1 1 2 9 8 12 
			 Glen Parva 222 241 230 269 341 362 
			 Gloucester 56 36 62 41 56 47 
			 Grendon/Spring Hill 4 5 4 2 2 5 
			 Guys Marsh 43 41 49 43 57 72 
			 Haslar 5 1  2 1 6 
			 Haverigg 19 17 22 30 41 68 
			 Hewell Grange  1 6  1 3 
			 High Down 85 97 119 101 134 112 
			 Highpoint 130 82 91 72 74 79 
			 Hindley 88 177 63 112 348 497 
			 Hollesley Bay 179 45 1 4 2 3 
			 Holloway 98 91 80 94 121 112 
			 Holme House 71 89 69 86 98 123 
			 Hull 84 91 168 166 121 138 
			 Huntercombe 44 77 79 95 184 279 
			 Kennet  4 
			 Kingston  2 3 1 3 1 
			 Kirkham 3 1 4 3 1 3 
			 Kirklevington 1  
			 Lancaster 12 11 4 10 10 19 
			 Lancaster Farms 130 17 185 435 363 337 
			 Leeds 96 148 136 109 104 92 
			 Leicester 70 59 53 42 51 34 
			 Lewes 89 104 60 62 73 61 
			 Leyhill  3 5 6 7 2 
			 Lincoln 81 68 47 56 60 87 
			 Lindholme 17 43 42 33 37 51 
			 Littlehey 31 32 37 41 39 37 
			 Liverpool 94 109 118 127 162 225 
			 Long Lartin 16 17 16 36 38 43 
			 Low Newton 94 117 89 62 68 63 
			 Lowdham Grange 20 19 20 37 73 41 
			 Maidstone 16 10 21 14 11 17 
			 Manchester 191 217 182 142 172 127 
			 Moorland 177 139 34 94 89 90 
			 Moorland Open 28 11 3 8 1 1 
			 Morton Hall 7 13 16 9 15 12 
			 Mount 17 25 16 55 48 43 
			 New Hall 47 32 77 84 44 56 
			 North Sea Camp   4 3 7 2 
			 Northallerton 80 82 84 104 82 96 
			 Norwich 132 128 11 20 40 12 
			 Nottingham 61 66 74 64 55 84 
			 Onley 516 509 161 152 153 214 
			 Parc 198 233 227 247 241 315 
			 Parkhurst 16 34 38 37 33 (2) 
			 Pentonville 129 165 120 139 155 139 
			 Peterborough100 221 221 
			 Portland 71 61 125 154 127 189 
			 Preston 23 71 62 77 78 104 
			 Ranby 39 38 19 30 52 42 
			 Reading 7 23 25 76 57 44 
			 Risley 39 60 107 103 102 107 
			 Rochester 32 51 102 78 100 75 
			 Rye Hill 10 19 40 53 65 66 
			 Send 4 5 2 17 11 6 
			 Shepton Mallet 10 3 3 1  4 
			 Shrewsbury 35 44 41 50 29 39 
			 Stafford 11 19 41 58 39 76 
			 Standford Hill 2 3 2 7 5 4 
			 Stocken 37 36 33 39 43 58 
			 Stoke Heath 241 137 239 438 506 526 
			 Styal 13 9 28 25 39 58 
			 Sudbury 1 1 1 2  4 
			 Swaleside 32 25 25 32 41 51 
			 Swansea 9 16 16 20 30 19 
			 Swinfen Hall 127 110 96 104 89 87 
			 Thorn Cross 56 39 7 19 143 83 
			 Usk\Prescoed 1 2 1 3 1 8 
			 Verne 10 13 16 22 9 10 
			 Wakefield 10 8 18 26 24 18 
			 Wandsworth 54 51 74 77 69 93 
			 Warren Hill  93 162 256 268 317 
			 Wayland 23 65 51 59 49 58 
			 Wealstun 9 14 7 9 28 21 
			 Weare 48 52 55 23   
			 Wellingborough 12 17 12 30 49 35 
			 Werrington 114 129 104 139 143 141 
			 Wetherby 41 175 414 492 403 349 
			 Whatton 3 9 5 2 8 15 
			 Whitemoor 30 18 15 21 21 30 
			 Winchester 43 65 57 47 35 26 
			 Wolds 52 27 41 23 30 49 
			 Woodhill 7 27 51 67 57 52 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 69 89 129 142 147 136 
			 Wymott  8 3 9 23 28 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Prisoner on Officer 
			  Prison name  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007( 1) 
			 Acklington 2 3 3 5 7 9 
			 Albany 2 3   3 (2) 
			 Altcourse 45 43 40 44 36 50 
			 Ashfield 124 62 71 152 127 82 
			 Ashwell 1 1   4 2 
			 Aylesbury 12 15 5 15 18 11 
			 Bedford 17 13 10 14 27 12 
			 Belmarsh 82 52 43 34 22 22 
			 Birmingham 53 58 83 93 78 69 
			 Blakenhurst 10 25 51 44 31 35 
			 Blundeston 3 2 4 7 7 1 
			 Brinsford 24 31 26 17 8 11 
			 Bristol 51 25 45 28 41 14 
			 Brixton 73 48 62 49 37 32 
			 Brockhill 13 5 10 14 9 3 
			 Bronzefield   17 85 77 41 
			 Buckley Hall 12 36 16 23 10 11 
			 Bullingdon 24 23 14 15 22 21 
			 Bullwood Hall 1   8 6 2 
			 Camp Hill 8 12 8 12 5 (2) 
			 Canterbury 4 7 4 4 3 4 
			 Cardiff 14 11 15 19 14 3 
			 Castington 53 52 53 50 42 41 
			 Channings Wood 3 4 10 8 7 15 
			 Chelmsford 25 15 21 37 51 21 
			 Coldingley 2 7 
			 Cookham Wood 2 14 5 3 1 2 
			 Dartmoor 10 9 5 11 7 8 
			 Deerbolt 9 5 25 32 21 34 
			 Doncaster 30 25 22 24 45 28 
			 Dorchester 2 4 2 9 9 8 
			 Dovegate 29 46 75 34 55 42 
			 Downview 10 6 7 29 9 11 
			 Drake Hall 1   1 1  
			 Durham 24 34 29 41 43 57 
			 East Sutton Park  1 1
			 Eastwood Park 5 11 7 21 25 8 
			 Edmunds Hill  9 20 9 13 2 
			 Elmley 23 25 20 30 17 27 
			 Erlestoke   2 2 2 9 
			 Everthorpe 2 2 2 9 13 12 
			 Exeter 12 11 2 7 11 8 
			 Featherstone 17 8 18 5 9 16 
			 Feltham 83 102 169 129 115 102 
			 Ford 1 3 7 5 2 3 
			 Forest Bank 39 62 75 82 50 33 
			 Foston Hall 28 14 8 11 25 25 
			 Frankland 12 5 13 9 10 18 
			 Full Sutton 7 11 11 17 13 8 
			 Garth 8 10 5 6 8 8 
			 Gartree   1 2 3 1 
			 Glen Parva 41 27 39 31 40 50 
			 Gloucester 12 13 6 12 13 6 
			 Grendon/Spring Hill  1 
			 Guys Marsh 1 6 5 3 12 15 
			 Haverigg 2 6 2 1 4 17 
			 Hewell Grange2  1 
			 High Down 59 45 56 38 69 65 
			 Highpoint 46 20 18 13 22 19 
			 Hindley 25 23 13 30 55 41 
			 Hollesley Bay 18 4 3
			 Holloway 88 88 93 78 99 87 
			 Holme House 13 20 18 27 24 20 
			 Hull 16 27 29 33 23 30 
			 Huntercombe 15 18 15 14 32 22 
			 Kingston 2 1  1 2  
			 Kirkham 1 2 
			 Lancaster 1  3 1 2 1 
			 Lancaster Farms 20 9 27 46 51 31 
			 Leeds 56 75 39 36 16 18 
			 Leicester 15 11 5 7 16 7 
			 Lewes 14 20 10 15 13 13 
			 Leyhill   1 1  3 
			 Lincoln 20 11 21 20 15 22 
			 Lindholme 5 18 5 12 13 19 
			 Littlehey 6 12 10 10 5 2 
			 Liverpool 37 45 35 21 18 30 
			 Long Lartin 7 5J 5 15 11 15 
			 Low Newton 27 16 24 27 19 17 
			 Lowdham Grange 4 4 12 16 34 39 
			 Maidstone 2 6 5 1  5 
			 Manchester 53 58 59 69 65 77 
			 Moorland 22 21 13 20 16 13 
			 Morton Hall 4 1 3 2 5 1 
			 Mount 5 13 7 8 15 19 
			 New Hall 25 21 14 23 57 45 
			 North Sea Camp 1 21 
			 Northallerton 6 11 13 10 6 5 
			 Norwich 24 24 17 18 17 1 
			 Nottingham 12 15 28 12 22 43 
			 Onley 68 86 13 27 29 22 
			 Parc 27 55 57 44 48 48 
			 Parkhurst 9 18 16 14 2 (2) 
			 Pentonville 113 90 94 120 59 57 
			 Peterborough72 134 111 
			 Portland 22 15 39 37 41 37 
			 Preston 10 9 17 24 29 44 
			 Ranby 9 8 3 3 16 16 
			 Reading 6 7 16 14 11 9 
			 Risley 15 18 26 32 28 23 
			 Rochester 5 15 16 23 13 4 
			 Rye Hill 18 20 38 65 47 41 
			 Send 2 4  2 3 1 
			 Shepton Mallet 2 11 
			 Shrewsbury 3 11 3 3 6 5 
			 Stafford 8 10 6 13 11 8 
			 Standford Hill 1 1 
			 Stocken 10 9 8 12 7 9 
			 Stoke Heath 47 20 37 52 63 65 
			 Styal 4 7 12 13 32 45 
			 Sudbury  2   1  
			 Swaleside 29 17 16 7 10 5 
			 Swansea 5 6 4 3 5  
			 Swinfen Hall 7 8 4 10 9 9 
			 Thorn Cross 1 3 1 1 3 1 
			 Usk\Prescoed 1 1 
			 Verne 1 1 5 3   
			 Wakefield 7 7 7 9 8 12 
			 Wandsworth 79 73 84 86 36 31 
			 Warren Hill  12 19 34 35 46 
			 Wayland 7 11 8 2 9 10 
			 Wealstun  2  3 2 6 
			 Weare 9 10 6 4   
			 Wellingborough 1 1 1 16 13 5 
			 Werrington 5 21 18 19 19 12 
			 Wetherby 9 11 70 66 56 34 
			 Whatton  1 1  4 11 
			 Whitemoor 22 15 16 18 10 21 
			 Winchester 13 13 13 10 10 3 
			 Wolds 12 7 10 3 8 2 
			 Woodhill 16 35 39 71 68 52 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 54 37 69 57 54 67 
			 Wymott  1  4 4 4 
			 (1) There is a slight lag in reporting which means that the provisional number mentioned here will rise a little in the coming months. (2) NOM - CNOMIS (offender management information system) sites where data is not available at time of compilation.

Probation Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether his Department will allocate an increased budget to probation services in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11;
	(2)  whether his Department will allocate an increased budget to probation services in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

David Hanson: The local probation boards' and trusts' budgets have not been settled for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11. Indicative budget planning figures for 2008-09 for the main grant, which forms the major part of Boards' and Trusts' budgets, show an average increase of 2.7 per cent.

Probation: ICT

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been spent on resolving IT problems connected with probation at his Department in each of the last four years.

David Hanson: The Department does not keep specific records concerning the cost of IT problem resolution with probation. It does however have a support and operating contract from Steria, its key supply partner. Embedded within this support contract is the resolution of problems.

Probation: Northumbria

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the likely effect on employees' terms and conditions of budget reductions in the Northumbria probation area.

Maria Eagle: There are no budget reductions in the Northumbria probation area. Terms and conditions of service are determined nationally through the National Negotiating Council of the National Probation Service and this national collective bargaining is retained as probation boards move to trust status from April 2008. A modernised pay and grading structure supported by a national job evaluation scheme was introduced in 2005. Local boards have the ability to negotiate some lesser terms and conditions such as essential car user allowance. These are a matter for the local employer in this case the Northumbria Probation Board through consultation and negotiation with their employees.

Probation: Northumbria

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the likely effect on trainee probation officers of budget reductions in the Northumbria probation area.

Maria Eagle: Northumbria was able to recruit 24 trainee probation officers during Cohort 10 (07/08), having not recruited for the previous two Cohorts. A new process for training will be introduced in October 2008 and because of this, the number of trainees each board will recruit is currently unknown.

Probation: Northumbria

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether staff will be made redundant as a result of budget reductions in the Northumbria probation area.

Maria Eagle: There will be no budget reductions in 2008-09 in Northumbria probation area. Northumbria's budget will increase from 25,484 million to 25,995 million between 2007-08 and 2008-09 (2.01 per cent.). In addition, their 3 Year Corporate Plan includes a programme of cash savings of up to 1.3 million from their non staffing budget. They are however considering the option of some voluntary redundancies phased over Years 1 and 2 of the 3 year period.

Public Law Family Fees Consultation Paper

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps are being taken to ensure that the concerns of local government lawyers will be addressed by the Public Law Family Fees Consultation Paper.

Bridget Prentice: All responses received to the consultation including any concerns expressed by local government lawyers will be considered carefully. The consultation will close on the 11 March 2008.

Whitemoor Prison

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) deaths by natural causes and  (b) suicides at HM Prison Whitemoor in each year since 1992; what assessment he has made of any (i) trend or (ii) causality; what steps are being taken to reduce the incidence of suicide at the establishment; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The information requested at  (a) and  (b) of the question is included in the following table:
	
		
			   Type of death 
			   Natural causes  Self-inflicted 
			 1992 0 0 
			 1993 0 0 
			 1994 1 0 
			 1995 0 1 
			 1996 2 0 
			 1997 2 0 
			 1998 1 1 
			 1999 1 0 
			 2000 0 0 
			 2001 0 0 
			 2003 2 0 
			 2004 2 0 
			 2005 0 0 
			 2006 1 1 
			 2007 1 4 
		
	
	(i) There is no discernable trend to the self-inflicted deaths at Whitemoor, though all four such deaths in 2007 were Category A Life Sentenced prisoner who are a traditionally high risk group.
	(ii) Since 2004 the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been conducting investigations into all deaths in prison custody. All such deaths are also subject to a coroners inquest. The investigations into the four most recent self-inflicted deaths at Whitemoor are incomplete. Whitemoor, like much of the prison estate, contains a population with a high proportion of very vulnerable individuals, many of whom have experienced negative life events that we know increase the likelihood of them harming themselves. Issues that increase risk include drug/alcohol abuse, family background and relationship problems, social disadvantage or isolation, previous sexual or physical abuse, and mental health problems. Between July 2006 and July 2007 the proportion of prisoners at Whitemoor with a life/indeterminate sentence rose from 58 per cent. to 64 per cent. but this change appears insufficient to explain the recent self-inflicted deaths. At the request of the governor, the Prison Service's Directorate of High Security Prisons has established a group to review the five self-inflicted deaths which occurred at Whitemoor prison between November 2006 and December 2007.
	Every death in prison affects families, staff and other prisoners deeply. Ministers and the Prison Service are completely committed to reducing the number of such tragic incidents. The updated Prison Service suicide prevention strategy was published in October 2007 with implementation due to be completed in every prison, including Whitemoor, by end-April 2008. Building on several years of learning from the experience of prisoners, staff, investigators, inspectors and others, it incorporates developments such as improved cross-agency information flows, the provision of safer cells, increasing prisoner peer support, and the introduction of ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork) the care-planning system for prisoners at-risk of suicide or self-harm, introduced across the prisons estate in partnership with the Department of Health during 2005-07.
	At Whitemoor itself a Head of Decency to oversee the whole safer prisons strategy has been appointed, local safer custody policies have been re-visited, communication of prisoner safety information across the establishment improved, and there is an action plan which ensures that all actions identified following any death are implemented.

Whitemoor Prison

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff at HM Prison Whitemoor have been dismissed in each of the last 24 months; what reason was given for each dismissal; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Information on the number of staff dismissed from HMP Whitemoor by category of dismissal in each month of 2006 and 2007 is contained in the following table. The information relates to operational and non-operational staff. The average number of staff during this period was 763.
	
		
			  Staff dismissed From HMP WhitemoorJanuary 2006 to December 2007 
			   Dismissals 
			   Disciplinary  Inefficiency  Total 
			  2006
			 January
			 February
			 March  1 1 
			 April
			 May
			 June
			 July
			 August
			 September  2 2 
			 October
			 November
			 December
			 
			  2007
			 January 3 1 4 
			 February 1 3 4 
			 March
			 April 1 1 2 
			 May  2 2 
			 June
			 July
			 August 2 1 3 
			 September
			 October 1 1 2 
			 November
			 December
			 Total 8 12 20

Whitemoor Prison

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what support is being made available to  (a) governors and  (b) prison officers at HM Prison Whitemoor to assist with (i) stress and (ii) mental health problems; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Prison Service Order 3601 requires area managers and governing governors to  (a) assess the risks to their employees health from stress and psychological hazards,  (b) implement procedures for managing those risks, and  (c) provide support for staff suffering from stress or psychological harm as a result of their work.
	A range of services is already in place within prisons to support staff affected by stress, depression or anxiety related illnesses. These include services accessible through staff care and welfare and support provided locally by care teams.
	A member of the Whitemoor staff care team is always available to offer assistance and support to staff. Additionally arrangements are available under contract for staff to receive personal support and telephone counselling should there be a need. Where it is considered parts of the prison might be likely to generate particular stress, group peer support supervision sessions are arranged in addition to psychology staff being available to offer advice and support to staff.
	An Occupational Health Adviser has been appointed by Whitemoor to provide a range of interventions and advice in relation to stress and health issues.

Whitemoor Prison

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) mobile telephones and  (b) drugs have been recovered at HM Prison Whitemoor in each of the last 12 months; what assessment he has made of the contribution to contraband detection at the establishment through (i) dedicated search teams, (ii) prison dogs, (iii) the prison's correspondence office, (iv) wing staff and (v) security intelligence reports; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: For each month between January 2007 and December 2007, the number of mobile telephones and drugs recovered was:
	
		
			  Number 
			  2007  Mobile telephones  Drugs 
			 January 2 5 
			 February 5 2 
			 March 0 7 
			 April 2 1 
			 May 5 2 
			 June 10 7 
			 July 6 5 
			 August 4 3 
			 September 2 1 
			 October 5 10 
			 November 6 6 
			 December 13 9 
			 Total 60 58 
		
	
	There has been no individual assessment of the contribution each part of the prison plays in the detection of unauthorised items coming into or found within the prison, since in many cases it is the cooperation of all staff that permits the discovery of illicit material. It is not Prison Service policy to comment on the specific measures each establishment is taking to prevent contraband from coming into the establishment. Whitemoor deploys a wide variety of resources to do so.

Whitemoor Prison

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the levels of staff morale at HM Prison Whitemoor in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Aspects of staff morale are assessed in the annual Prison Service staff opinion survey. The following table shows results for HM Prison Whitemoor from 2002 to 2006, the most recent five years of published figures. The numbers in the table are the percentage of staff responding to the survey who agreed with statements about job satisfaction and pride in working for the Prison Service.
	
		
			  Results for Whitemoor Prison from the annual staff surveys: Percentage of responders agreeing to statements 
			   Overall I am satisfied with the job I do  I am proud to work for the Prison Service 
			 2002 (1) (1) 
			 2003 71 55 
			 2004 70 55 
			 2005 73 55 
			 2006 79 62 
			 (1) Not included in survey sample.

Whitemoor Prison

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether there has been an investigation of all those with management responsibility at HM Prison Whitemoor; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: No. Investigations do however take place into the actions of staff, including individual managers, where specific complaints or concerns about their conduct have been raised.

Young Offenders

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average age was of  (a) juvenile and  (b) young offenders in secure accommodation in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The average age of juveniles (those aged between 15 and 17) detained within prison establishments in England and Wales as at 30 June was 16.5 in each year between 2002, the earliest year for which this information is available, and 2007; the average age of young adults(1) was 19.3 in each year since 2002.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	(1) Young adults are those aged 18-20 and those 21-year-olds who were aged 20 or under at conviction who have not been reclassified as part of the adult population.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

African Union: Overseas Aid

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the UK's financial contribution to the African Union is in 2007-08; what this contribution has been used to fund; and what plans the Government have to provide funding for these budget lines in 2008-09.

Douglas Alexander: DFID has provided 20,000 in 2007-08 to the African Union Commission (AUC) to support the upgrade of its procurement manual to international standards.
	DFID has approved 500,000 over two years towards the African Union Commission's Institutional Transformation programme. The first instalment (125,000) was due in 2007-08; however, the AUC are still to agree to the DFID funding arrangement.
	The Africa Conflict Prevention programme has allocated 1 million for the African Union Peace and Security Department for 2007-08 and has allocated 1.25 million for 2008-09.

African Union: Overseas Aid

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Commission for Africa Report recommendation that donors agree to fund at least 50 per cent. of the African Union's (AU's) Peace Fund from 2005 onwards has been implemented; what representations he has made to international donors to encourage further funding for the AU's Peace Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The UK supported the Commission for Africa's recommendation that at least 50 per cent. of the African Union Peace Fund should be supported by donors. A payment of 5.5 million was made in 2006 through the Africa Peace Fund for the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS). However, as both the scale of AU peacekeeping operations increased, and donors increased their support, other funding channels have been developed with the AU, including further contributions for peacekeeping operations in Somalia and Sudan. This provides greater operational effectiveness and accountability for donor funds, and means that less use of the Peace Fund is likely to be made in future.
	The UK continues to work with other donors in the EU and at the UN to find a mechanism that ensures predictable financing for AU peace work, while providing appropriate levels of accountability.

African Union: Overseas Aid

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the UK has provided by voluntary contribution to the African Union Peace Fund since 2005.

Douglas Alexander: In 2006, the UK provided a contribution of 5.5 million through the AU Peace Fund to cover the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) running costs for the period 15 November 2005 to 31 March 2006. Since then, and in common with other donors, UK support has been via separate financing arrangements rather than the AU Peace Fund. For example, the UK provided at least 31.5 million for AMIS, through specific AU bank accounts set up for this purpose, to enhance operational effectiveness and accountability for the fund.

Bangladesh: Prices

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of rising commodity prices on living standards in Bangladesh.

Shahid Malik: Economic growth in Bangladesh has been positive since 1976, increasing from 2.2 per cent. in the turbulent 1970s to 5.7 per cent. between 2000 and 2006. This is a major achievement for a country frequently suffering from natural and political shocks. However, the rising prices of commodities are a real concern for the people and government of Bangladesh. Government spending is high on subsidies for fuel, fertiliser, utilities and basic foods to ensure people can still purchase these products. However, this puts further pressure on Bangladesh's fiscal deficit. The dramatically rising rice prices are having a negative impact on the living standards of the poor in particular. These price rises are not only due to international price increases, but have also been exacerbated by other factors such as rising overall inflation, and reduced domestic agricultural production due to the floods in August and the cyclone in November 2007.
	The UK Government are monitoring the situation closely. During my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's visit to Bangladesh in December, he personally met with the Bangladesh Finance Adviser where he discussed the issue of rising prices and the immense challenge this is for Bangladesh. While our development programme is providing some assistance to counteract the impact of rising food prices through our ongoing programmes and some additional short-term measures in response to cyclone SIDR, it remains the government of Bangladesh's responsibility to tackle this challenge, beginning with the issue of rising inflation.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to reduce his Department's carbon dioxide emissions in 2008-09.

Shahid Malik: DFID has recently taken various steps to further reduce future carbon emissions including:
	all UK sites are covered by Environment Management Systems;
	we have signed up to the Carbon Trust Energy Efficiency Programme;
	we have installed sub-metering and natural ventilation to our IT server rooms;
	we regularly have awareness-raising campaigns for staff;
	we have achieved accreditation to the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme;
	during 2008-2009 we are finalising feasibility studies into renewable technologies in our Scottish office site including a wind turbine and biomass boiler;
	conducted investigations of the possibility of further efficiency measures such as tri-generation at our London office;
	implemented internal targets to reduce air miles flown by 5 per cent. per year.

Departmental Consultants

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what consultancy contracts his Department issued in each year since 2005; what the (a) value, (b) purpose and (c) contractor was in each case; and whether the consultant's report is publicly available in each case.

Douglas Alexander: DFID's website:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/procurement/contractslet.asp
	provides the requested information on consultancy contracts awarded during the period January 2005 to November 2007. This does not include low-value contracts issued by DFID's overseas offices. To produce a separate list of these would incur a disproportionate cost.
	Due to the development nature of DFID projects, the related contracts tend to be longer term in duration with a range of reports being produced by the consultant at key review points of the project. These reports are normally available to the public on request, but may be subject to legitimate restrictions to take account of the requirements of the Data Protection Act, exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act and contractual terms and conditions in relation to intellectual property rights.

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter, dated 9th November 2007, on funding to the World Bank.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 14 January 2008
	A reply to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter of 9 November 2007 has been issued.

Departmental E-mail

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to reduce the number of hard copies of e-mails printed by officials in his Department.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development has already taken various steps to reduce waste arisings, including waste from paper, and has met the Government target to reduce waste by 5 per cent. by 2010, relative to 2004-05 levels. For instance, DFID regularly takes action to raise staff awareness on minimising waste, including paper, through notices on our internal intranet and poster campaigns. In 2005 we introduced an Electronic Document and Records Management Database, and the training on the system actively promotes retaining only key e-mails electronically. During a recent IT upgrade DFID reduced the number of printers by over 30 per cent.

Departmental ICT

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the  (a) start date,  (b) original planned completion date,  (c) current expected completion date,  (d) planned cost and  (e) current estimated cost is of each information technology project being undertaken by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The contract for the ARIES Finance, Procurement and Reporting System was signed in November 2005. The original planned completion date was October 2008. The projected supplier base cost at tender was 11 million. A number of additional cost options are available under the contract. The current expected completion date is July 2009 with an estimated supplier base cost of 16 million. This estimate reflects agreed changes to the scope of the project, a software upgrade, additional consultancy support for change management, development of end-user training materials and assistance with training and rollout.
	The contract for the Quest electronic document and records management project was signed in March 2004. The main rollout was originally estimated to be completed in December 2005. Detailed planning carried out in early 2005 led to a revised target date of March 2006, which was met. Additional planned enhancements are on track to be completed in March 2008. The projected supplier base cost at tender was 8.98 million. The current projected total supplier cost is 11.68 million, including additional cost options available under the original contract.
	The web transformation project began in December 2007. The current expected completion date is December 2008, but planning is not yet complete. The projected cost is 2 million.
	The HR transformation project started in March 2005 and is on track to be complete in March 2008 as planned. The original budget was 6.5 million and the current forecast is 6 million.
	The laptop refresh project started in October 2007 and is on track to complete the procurement stage by the end of February 2008 as planned. The estimated completion date for the rollout is December 2008. The original budget was 1.8 million and the current forecast is 1.7 million.
	The virtual private network replacement project started in March 2007 and was originally planned to end in April 2008. The current estimated completion date is December 2008. The original budget was 1.23 million and the current forecast is 1.6 million.
	DFID has also let a number of small IT related contracts. However, our central records do not distinguish IT contracts, so provision of details for these projects would incur disproportionate costs.

Developing Countries: AIDS

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with his G8 counterparts on the provision of funding for AIDS programmes in developing countries; how much of the funding agreed at Gleneagles in 2005 for this purpose has been provided; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: holding answer 22 January 2008
	DFID Ministers and senior officials have been holding discussions with G8 colleagues in preparation for the Hokkaido Toyako summit this year. Discussions on health have been wide-ranging, including on HIV and AIDS.
	No specific funding commitment was made on AIDS in the communiqu from the Gleneagles G8 summit in 2005; instead the G8 leaders agreed to develop a package for HIV prevention, treatment and care, with the aim of as close as possible to universal access to treatment for all those who need it by 2010. At the Heiligendamm G8 summit of 2007, in the context of scaling up efforts to contribute towards the goal of universal access to comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010 for all, and to developing and strengthening health systems, G8 Heads agreed to provide at least a projected US $60 billion over the coming years, and invited other donors to contribute. The G8 also made substantial commitments in the areas of preventing mother to child transmission, paediatric treatments for AIDS and in the areas of maternal and child health care and voluntary family planning.
	Our analysis of data compiled by UNAIDS indicates that G8 countries committed around US $7.5 billion on AIDS over the last two years, 2005 and 2006. This represents 76 per cent. of global commitments to AIDS during the period.

Developing Countries: Companies

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what measures have been put in place to monitor the impacts on global poverty of the projects undertaken by companies as part of the Prime Minister's Millennium Development Goals call to action  (a) immediately and  (b) over time;
	(2)  which companies have been invited to attend the meeting convened by the Government on the Millennium Development Goals call to action in April 2008; and what other discussions are intended to take place with companies on this issue;
	(3)  what discussions the Government have had with the companies involved in the Prime Minister's Millennium Development Goals call to action;
	(4)  what criteria the Government are using to assess the overall impact of the core business practices of the companies selected to join the Prime Minister's call to action on global poverty;
	(5)  what criteria were used to select the companies invited to join the Prime Minister's Millennium Development Goal call to action.

Douglas Alexander: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Call to Action seeks to engage the energies of the private sector, alongside governments and a range of other stakeholders such as NGOs, faith groups and cities in responding to the challenge of accelerating progress towards the MDGs. The Government have had a range of discussions both with the 21 companies that initially signed the Call to Action and with other potential supporters.
	Companies who support the Call to Action will discuss their ideas for practical initiatives that could contribute to achieving the MDGs, at a meeting in London in May. Private sector investment is a key factor in accelerating economic growth, and hence achieving the MDGs, so such sharing of ideas is an important part of the Call to Action. It is hoped that the meeting will encourage wider interest and commitment from the private sector on the Call to Action.
	The meeting is expected to take place in May. We are working with the UN to investigate what appropriate mechanism could be put in place to ensure private sector projects adhere to best practice in their efforts to contribute to the achievement of the MDGs.

Food Aid: Children

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the answer of 21 May 2007,  Official Report, column 1028W, to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green, on food aid: children, what the results were of the policy review of his Department's approach to child malnutrition that was part of his Department's health strategy launched in June 2007; and if he will publish the results of this policy review.

Douglas Alexander: DFID is currently examining the Department's approach to improving child malnutrition which was highlighted as one of a number of important issues in the 2007 health strategy. A recent report issued by the Institute of Development Studies and Save the Children UK has highlighted DFID's strong track record in tackling the underlying causes of malnutrition but considers that we can do more. We are examining options where the Department can add value in improving the international research and evidence base and how we can expand policy links with country offices, such as India, where a major DFID programme to reduce levels of malnutrition is under way. We will publish the outcome on the DFID website in due course.

Malnutrition: Children

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with colleagues in the European Commission on efforts to tackle malnutrition among children in developing countries.

Douglas Alexander: On several occasions I and other ministerial colleagues have discussed health related issues, of which malnutrition is an important part, with EC colleagues.

Malnutrition: Children

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department works with developing country governments to fund countries' plans to scale up direct nutrition interventions, such as breast feeding support and promotion and vitamin A and zinc supplementation.

Douglas Alexander: DFID supports countries through a range of aid instruments to implement their national health plans. This includes specific support for direct nutrition interventions such as breast feeding support and micronutrient supplementation. It also funds substantial direct nutrition interventions in a number of countries such as India where under-nutrition is a major cause of the burden of disease.
	DFID is funding a large randomised controlled trial on the impact of vitamin A supplementation for women of reproductive age on all-cause, pregnancy-related, perinatal and infant mortality in rural Ghana. The results from the trial, expected in 2009, will be important to understand the potential role of vitamin A in safe motherhood initiatives, and to provide explanations for the way vitamin A may impact on mortality.
	DFID also supports the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Research in Bangladesh, whose research has helped Bangladesh become the first country to scale up zinc supplementation.

Malnutrition: Standards

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether an indicator to measure malnutrition rates which form part of millennium development goal one are included in his Department's public service agreement.

Douglas Alexander: The UK Government's public service agreement (PSA) to reduce international poverty is to accelerate progress towards all eight of the millennium development goals (MDG). Progress towards the MDGs is monitored annually through the collaborative efforts of agencies and organisations within the UN system which track the progress of 48 specific indicators. These include two indicators of malnutritionthe prevalence of underweight children under five years of age and the proportion of population below minimum level of dietary energy consumption.

Nutrition

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in his Department are nutritionists.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development has 49 health advisers. Nutritionists, however, do not form a separate professional group and it would incur disproportionate cost to identify those with formal qualifications or a professional background in that specialised area.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many complaints have been made to the UK's National Contact Point (NCP) on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's guidelines for multinational enterprises; how many NCP statements there have been that breaches of the guidelines have taken place; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: 16 complaints have been brought to the UK National Contact Point since 2000. The NCP reorganisation in 2006 committed the NCP to state if breaches of the guidelines had occurred and whether a mediated solution was not possible. Seven complaints have been brought since the reorganisation. Six are under mediation or investigation and one was resolved outside the NCP process. The NCP will make it clear in its conclusion for any case whether or not the guidelines have been breached.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps have been taken by his Department, in co-operation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, to raise awareness, amongst British companies which operate in conflict-affected countries, of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's guidelines for multinational enterprises and the risk awareness tool for multinational enterprises in weak governance zones; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The UK National Contact Point (NCP) undertakes a number of activities to promote the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the OECD's Risk Awareness Tool. This includes use of the Government's corporate social responsibility website, the provision of materials to DFID offices and FCO missions to raise awareness amongst British business overseas, and attending meetings and speaking at conferences. In addition, FCO, BERR and DFID Ministers have written to a wide range of companies to raise awareness of the guidelines and state HMG's commitment to their effective implementation.
	The NCP is organising for key embassies and DFID country offices to provide a link to the guidelines and risk awareness tool on their websites. The NCP has also agreed to provide 10,000 to the OECD to support a web portal to disseminate the risk awareness tool, and is sponsoring the upcoming Chatham House conference on corporate social responsibility.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in his Department are working to promote the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's guidelines for multinational enterprises.

Douglas Alexander: The UK's National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD guidelines is currently managed by officials from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). BERR dedicate one full-time official to working on the NCP and are in the process of recruiting a second. The Foreign Office and DFID both currently contribute 20 per cent. of one official's time as core resource. From time to time additional staff resources are deployed as necessary.

UN Peacebuilding Commission

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UN Peacebuilding Commission in carrying out its functions.

Douglas Alexander: Although the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) was initially slow to start, over the last year it has begun to provide useful support to peacebuilding in Burundi and Sierra Leone, the first two countries on its agenda. Consolidating the Peace?, an external NGO review in June 2007, found that the PBC had made a contribution to improved governance in Burundi by facilitating a government-civil society dialogue on peacebuilding, though it also outlined a number of challenges. I have placed a copy of this report in the Library of both Houses.
	Over the next year, for the PBC to continue to be effective, the strategic frameworks for peacebuilding agreed with the Governments of Burundi and Sierra Leone will need to be translated into action on the ground, and a framework will need to be agreed and implemented in Guinea-Bissau, which was referred to the PBC in December 2007. With the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), DFID will continue to play an active role in the PBC.

Waitrose Foundation

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has received representations from the John Lewis Partnership on the Waitrose Foundation in the last 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: DFID officials have been in contact with members of the John Lewis Partnership in the course of arranging and attending various meetings inside and outside Government over the last 24 months. Specific discussions on the Waitrose Foundation have not been held in the last 12 months.

HEALTH

Abortion: Disclosure of Information

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the Annual Abortion Statistics 2007 will be published; if he will place copies in the Vote Office on publication; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: 'Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2007' is scheduled for publication in June 2008. Copies will be placed in the Vote Office and the Library.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Greater London

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency departments at hospitals in each primary care trust in Greater London have been re-graded since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 15 January 2008
	The information requested is not held centrally. Any changes to the provision of emergency care facilities including accident and emergency (AE) departments, are matters for the local national health service (NHS).
	Information on the number of AE at hospitals in London is therefore only available from individual NHS trusts.

Alcoholic Drinks: Greater London

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many alcohol-related admissions there were to each London hospital  (a) in total and  (b) of patients aged under (i) 18 and (ii) 16 years in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 15 January 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 13 December 2007,  Official Report, column 871W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Jim Cousins), and on 8 January 2008,  Official Report, column 461W, to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley).

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) male and  (b) female binge drinkers, according to the definition of binge drinking used in the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy.

Dawn Primarolo: In both 2005 and 2006, 23 per cent. of men and 15 per cent. of women drank more than twice the daily recommendations (three to four units per day for men, two to three units per day for women) on at least one day in the previous week, a measure of binge drinking, showing no change.

Autism

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to improve the services offered by his Department for people with autism and Asperger's syndrome in the next 10 years.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has set out in Putting People Firsta shared vision and commitment to the transformation of adult social care an ambitious and radical programme for independent living for all adults with support needs, including people with autism and Asperger's syndrome. This shared vision articulates the common aims and values that will guide the transformation of adult social care. The goal is that everyoneincluding people with autism and Asperger's syndromewill have the maximum choice, control and power over the support services they receive.
	Aiming high for disabled children: better support for families similarly aims to integrate services to ensure that every disabled child can have the best start in life.
	It is for local commissioners to ensure their populations benefit from improvements to the provision of care for people with autistic spectrum disorders and Aspergers syndrome, using the increasing resources this Government have made available for social care, based on their assessment of the needs of their local populations.

Cancer

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on inpatient costs, excluding those related to surgery, for cancer patients in 2006-07.

Ann Keen: holding answer 24 January 2008
	The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Chlamydia: Screening

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) men and  (b) women in the North East Region were screened by each local chlamydia screening programme in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2006-07.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of chlamydia screens undertaken in the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) by sex and programme area from April 2005 to March 2006 
			  Programme areaDurham and Teeside  
			 Female 2,816 
			 Male 1,677 
			 Total 4,493 
			  Note: Northumberland Tyne and Wear programme area started screening after March 2006. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of chlamydia screens undertaken in the NCSP by sex and programme area from April 2006 to March 2007 
			  Programme area  Female  Male  Total 
			 Durham and Teeside 3,327 1,899 5,226 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 759 446 1,205 
			  Notes: 1. The data from the NCSP are for chlamydia screens undertaken outside of genitor-urinary medicine clinics. 2. The data available from the NCSP are the number of screens undertaken and not the number of patients screened. 3. The data describe screens, not contacts of positives. 4. The data only include those aged  25. 5. The data are specific to the following years 2005-06, 2006-07, as the NCSP follows the financial year.  Source:  The NCSP Data as of 24 January 2008.

Cholesterol: Medical Treatments

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the value for money for the NHS in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolaemia by use of cholesterol absorption inhibitors.

Dawn Primarolo: In November 2007, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its guidance on ezetimibe for the treatment of primary (heterozygous-familial and non-familial) hypercholesterolaemia to the National Health Service. NICE recommended the use of ezetimibe having carried out a thorough review of the clinical and economic evidence. We have made no separate assessment.

Commercial Directorate: Cost-effectiveness

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the savings made by the Commercial Directorate since it was established.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 28 January 2008
	Data provided to the Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency for activities overseen by the Department's Commercial Directorate indicate forecast savings of 3.06 billion at programme end at the end of 2007-08.

Community Nurses: Fuels

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the fuel allowance for NHS district nurses was last reviewed; how often it is reviewed; and what factors are taken into consideration when setting the allowance.

Ann Keen: The National Health Service Staff Council has overall responsibility for Agenda for Change terms and conditions that cover NHS district nurses. NHS Employers issued guidance on 10 December 2007 recommending increases to certain rates of national mileage allowances. This followed discussions between employer and staff representatives on 29 November 2007. This is an interim action, pending the outcome of the review of NHS mileage allowances currently being conducted by the NHS Staff Council. The sub-group of the NHS Staff Council is currently reviewing mileage allowances and will report to the next meeting of the Council on 11 March 2008. Mileage allowance is reviewed as and when appropriate according to the needs of the NHS.

Contaminated Blood and Blood Products Inquiry

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has been asked to provide a witness by the Inquiry Team for the Independent Public Inquiry into contaminated blood and blood products; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The right hon. the Lord Archer of Sandwell wrote to the former Secretary of State (Ms Hewitt) in February 2007 to invite the Department to give evidence at the independent inquiry.
	Officials met with members of the inquiry team on 25 April 2007 and 19 September 2007.

Cystic Fibrosis

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the percentage increase of cystic fibrosis patients over the next  (a) one,  (b) five and  (c) 10 years;
	(2)  how many patients were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: holding answer 28 January 2008
	Information on the number of people diagnosed with cystic fibrosis is not collected.
	We have made no estimate of the percentage increase in the number of cystic fibrosis patients.

Department Board

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1007W, on the Department Board, if he will place in the Library copies of the  (a) agenda and  (b) minutes of the NHS Management Board meeting of 25 September 2007.

Ben Bradshaw: The National Health Service Management Board discusses sensitive operational and policy development issues. Releasing the minutes to the public domain would prejudice the free and frank discussion of those issues, so it is not the Board's practice to release them.

Departmental Assets

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to paragraph 11, page 60 of his Department's resource accounts for 2006-07, if he will break down his Department's losses on the disposal of fixed assets by asset disposed of.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table analyses the reported 236 million loss on the disposal of fixed assets shown in the Department's Resource Account for 2006-07.
	90.5 million has already been received as income plus 7 million made in profit to offset these losses, and a further 160.4 million is expected in the future.
	
		
			  Department's retained estate   
			  Properties sold in 2006-07 to third parties 
			 31 Pathfields, Shere 44,612 
			 42 and 44 Redan road, Aldershot 233,682 
			 40 Princes road, Redhill 40,151 
			 42 Princes road, Redhill 110,822 
			 48 Park road, Leybourne, West Malling 66,831 
			 57 Park road, Loughborough 131,111 
			 9 Highbury Villas, Bristol 134,406 
			 9 Princes road, Redhill 44,612 
			 Okehampton Castle Hospital, Okehampton 1,662,990 
			 Compton Hospice, Wolverhampton 4,868,317 
			 Eastwood Park, Falfield 1,806,789 
			 Land at Clarement Crescent, Whitley Bay 1,337 
			 Oakleigh, Plymouth 83,636 
			 Orchard Field, Virginia Water 35,598 
			   
			  Properties sold in previous years to third parties 
			 4 The Chambers, Chichester 114,818 
			 10 Mayroyd Avenue, Surbiton 180,000 
			 12 Brambletye Park road, Redhill 140,486 
			 18 Netherne Lane, Coulsdon 164,944 
			 19 Liverpool Gardens, Worthing 167,020 
			 4 Brambletye Park road, Redhill 140,486 
			 47 Ginsborough road, Epsom 118,000 
			 54 Princes road, Redhill 145,276 
			 7 and 8 Ambley Green, Camberley 693,875 
			 8 Brambletye Park road, Redhill 140,486 
			 Ascot House, Albion Place, Maidstone 124,880 
			 Bexley Hospital (Part), Bexley 33,471,859 
			 24 Castle street, Barnstaple 188,273 
			 Central Boiler House and The Elms, Epsom 2,765,972 
			 22 Connaught road, Hove 349,482 
			 1 Westbourne road, Lancaster 5,506 
			 Chepping House, Temple End, High Wycombe 111,660 
			 Clinic, Longfellow Parade, Popley, Basingstoke 24,679 
			 Dalston Ambulance Station, Dalston 211,744 
			 Enfield Store, Enfield 2,274,167 
			 Farm Cottage, Epsom 172,203 
			 Glenside Hospital, Bristol 1,839,983 
			 2 Junction road, Harrow 490,993 
			 Holsworthy Health Centre and Ambulance Station, Holsworthy 211,156 
			 Keepers Cottage, Epsom 345,747 
			 Kelso Villa, Upper Bristol road, Bath 86,250 
			 King Georges W. Wing, Ilford 5,913,362 
			 St. Margaret's Hospital, Great Barr, Birmingham 6,586,287 
			 Overcliffe House, New road, Gravesend 105,075 
			 Prh Land, Telford 942,351 
			 Tarrant House, Milton Keynes 1,896,029 
			 Tern House, Upper High Street, Reigate 131,548 
			 Land at St. James Hospital, Portsmouth 50,189 
			 Worcester Royal Infirmary, Castle Street, Worcester 170,552 
			   
			  Adjustments in respect of transfers to national health service trust or primary care trust(PCT) in previous years 
			 1 and 2 Oaten Hill Court, Canterbury 37,321 
			 Badgers Croft, Gloucestershire 135,733 
			 20 Barnstone Vale, Wakefield 126,477 
			 Bedford Hospital North Wing, Bedford 11,158,215 
			 Belmont Hospital (Part), Tiverton 1,015,068 
			 Budock, Falmouth 1,449,684 
			 Chase Farm Ambulance Station, Enfield 731,021 
			 Land at De La Pole, Beverley 427,157 
			 Darlington Memorial Hospital, Darlington 327,957 
			 Elm Tree Farm, Stapleton, Bristol 738,462 
			 Feltham Ambulance Station, Feltham 150,719 
			 Harrow road Houses, Warlingham 278,932 
			 Land R/O Alexandra Hospital, Redditch 146 
			 Land at Leicester Frith, Leicester 223,113 
			 Linwood, Haywards Heath 734,676 
			 Moor Green Land, Southampton 5,911,150 
			 Public Dispensary Building, Plymouth 40,004 
			 Part St. Crispins, Northampton 2,565,802 
			 St. Lawrences, Bodmin 2,230,283 
			 St. Christopher's Hospital, Fareham 3,229,427 
			 St. James Hospital, Portsmouth 39,502,000 
			 The Firs, Epsom 382,399 
			 The Kestrels, Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire 1,380,992 
			 The Leaze, Okehampton 210,251 
			 Unity Building Trinity road, Bradford 3,220,702 
			   
			  English Partnerships transfer 
			 337 Birmingham road, Bromsgrove 16,740 
			 Land Hollywood Lodge Epsom 421,588 
			 Beeches Hospital, Telford 419,543 
			 Graylingwell, Chichester 14,754,986 
			 Manor Kingsway, Derby 3,899,151 
			 Land at Brinkley Grove, Colchester 223,109 
			 Part Prudhoe Hospital, Prudhoe 3,205,715 
			 Land at Chelmsley 220,811 
			 Runwell Hospital, Wickford 6,191,581 
			 St. Margaret's Hospital, Epping 1,877,515 
			 Stone House Hospital, Dartford 5,565,472 
			   
			  Assets transferred to PCTs in 2006-07 
			 Dinnington Clinic, Dinnington 190,062 
			 Land at Duchess Park, Bristol 301,088 
			 Nelson Health Centre, North Shields 1,229,088 
			 Part North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke 551,812 
			 Old Manor Hospital, Salisbury 3,661,683 
			 Part Park Prewett, Basingstoke 1,420,959 
			 Victoria Jubilee Infirmary, North Shields 2,230,583 
			   
			 Revaluations and adjustments 23,771,474 
			   
			 Selling costs for retained estate, adjustments to 2005-06 disposal costs and audit adjustment 19,520,888 
			   
			  Other losses 
			 Eileen House and Hannibal House London vacation due to lease expiry (write-off of assets 19,782 
			   
			 Adjustments for information technology assets transferred to Information Centre for Health and Social Care 588,725 
			   
			 Total 236,230,278 
			  Notes: 1. During 2006-07, a comprehensive review was undertaken of the Departments fixed asset register relating to land and buildings owned by the Secretary of State known as the 'retained estate'. As a result, adjustments were made and a proportion of the reported losses relate to the removal from the register of assets sold in previous years for which payment of 90.5 million had previously been received and accounted for. 2. The transfer of a portfolio of nearly one hundred properties to English Partnerships, agreed in 2005, includes provision for further payments to be made by them to the Department when they are sold in future years, these future payments have not been included in the accounts to date. As at 31 December 2007 English Partnerships estimate the value of these future payments to be 160.4 million. 3. A profit on disposal of assets in 2006-07 of 7 million was also reflected in the 2006-07 Resource Accounts.

Departmental Publicity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department and its agencies spent on managing their corporate identities in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department spent 248,181 on managing the Department's and national health service's corporate identities in 2006-07.
	The two agencies that receive funding from the Department are The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA).
	The MHRA has informed me that it does not employ any staff whose sole responsibility it is to manage its branding guidelines, nor does it currently retain consultants to advise on the development of corporate identity guidelines. The agency has produced a clear set of branding guidelines, which are available to all staff, and which all staff are expected to follow when producing printed or electronic items. Maintaining and advising on the guidelines is the responsibility of one member of staff within the Communications Division, alongside many other more substantial duties.
	NHS PASA uses the NHS logo and corporate identity, in line with the published NHS identity guidelines, and has informed me that it manages its identity internally with no external spend.

Doctors: Manpower

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the numbers of  (a) doctors and  (b) dentists who the NHS requires to be (i) recruited and (ii) trained in each of the next three years; and what percentage of (A) doctors and (B) dentists are expected to graduate from (1) medical schools and (2) dental schools in the UK in each of those years.

Ann Keen: The numbers of doctors and dentists who the national health service requires to be recruited each year is a matter for determination by local NHS organisations, as they are best placed to assess the health needs of their local health community.
	There is a planned intake of 6,194 students to train as doctors in each of the next three years. However the actual intake figure is usually slightly higher.
	There is a planned intake of 899 students to train as dentists in each of the next three years.
	It is estimated that in each of the three academic years from 2007-08 there is expected to be 5,681, 5,818 and 5,874 graduates respectively from medical schools while the number of graduates from English dental schools will increase from around 640 to 860.

Drugs: Testing

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have been held with the Nigerian Government on the testing of Trovan in Nigeria by Pfizer; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has not held any discussion with the Nigerian Government on the testing of Trovan in Nigeria by Pfizer.
	The choice of country in which to conduct clinical trials on medicinal products is a decision entirely on the part of the pharmaceutical company wishing to perform the trials.

Electromagnetic Radiation

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking in relation to exposure from electromagnetic microwave radiation from mobile telephone masts and wireless broadband technology;
	(2)  if he will request the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection to undertake an urgent review of guidance on exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic and electro magnetic fields in the frequency range up to 300Ghz, with particular reference to non-thermal health effects;
	(3)  what recent published medical research he has evaluated on the effect of telephone mast emissions on the health of nearby communities in the UK;
	(4)  if he will undertake an ecological study into the health of people living in communities close to mobile telephony masts.

Dawn Primarolo: Mobile telephones, base stations and wireless installations in this country are expected to comply with the electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The ICNIRP guidelines are incorporated into the European Recommendation on limiting public exposure to electromagnetic fields (EC/519/1999) adopted by European member states.
	Measurements by Ofcom (www.ofcom.org.uk) have consistently shown base station compliance with the guidelines. Exposure from mobile telephone handsets is available on the manufacturer's website at www.mmfai.org/public/. The Health Protection Agency's Radiation Protection Division (HPA-RPD) is undertaking a systematic programme of research into wireless local area networks (WLANs) and their use. In a recent announcement the HPA has said that WiFi and WLAN signals are very low power and the results so far show exposures are well within ICNIRP guidelines, which are available at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/hpa/news/articles/press_releases/2007/071012_wifi.htm
	The HPA-RPD periodically reviews the scientific research into the potential health effects from electromagnetic fields. Its comprehensive 2004 review recommended the adoption of the ICNIRP guidelines in this country, but also acknowledged the need for further research (www.hpa.org.uk/publications/). A 2007 assessment on behalf of the European Commission also endorsed the ICNIRP public exposure guidelines, but similarly noted the paucity of scientific data in some areas:
	www.ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/comm
	The independently managed Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) programme has supported a number of studies into the possible health effects of radio signals from mobile telephone technology. The studies of base stations were carried out in carefully controlled conditions as living close to base stations is not a reliable measure of overall exposure to radio signals. None of the research published in the 'MTHR 2007' report demonstrates that biological or adverse health effects are produced by radiofrequency exposure from mobile phones or base stations. These studies and recommendations for further research are described on the MTHR website at www.mthr.org.uk.

Financially Challenged Trust Regime: Health Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has powers to  (a) write off and  (b) sell the debt of NHS trusts within the Financially Challenged Trust Regime.

Ben Bradshaw: The value of any loans or public dividend capital to national health service trusts are recorded in the balance sheet of the Department's accounts as an investment. Subject to HM Treasury approval the Secretary of State has the powers to write off the value of any investment held with an NHS trust. Such a write-off would constitute a loss to the Exchequer and would as a consequence be reported in the Department of Health Resource Accounts. In such cases, in advance of the remission of debt, HM Treasury presents a minute to the House of Commons to give the particulars of the remission and to explain the circumstances.
	The Department currently has no plans to sell the debt of financially challenged trusts or to write it off. If the Department were to consider these options it would seek the advice of HM Treasury.

General Practitioners

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many GP surgeries are equipped to provide  (a) blood tests,  (b) electro cardiograms and  (c) ultrasound scans;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of GP surgeries which will be equipped to provide  (a) blood tests,  (b) electro cardiograms and  (c) ultrasound scans following the Prime Minister's announcement of 7 January 2008.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is not collected centrally, but many general practitioner surgeries already offer blood tests and electrocardiograms, and some offer ultrasounds and other diagnostic tests. Primary care trusts should decide locally the best setting to provide these services to meet the needs of their patients.

General Practitioners: Pay

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average NHS pay of a  (a) GP and  (b) GP with special interest in dermatology in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: Estimates of general practitioner (GP) pay used by the Department are set out in the following table:
	Estimated GP net income 1997-98 to 2005-06 (including real terms):
	
		
			  Average net income of principal GMS GPs (NHS income only), GB, 1997-98 to 2002-03Intended average net income 
			   Amount ()  Increase over previous year (Percentage)  Percentage  Average incomereal terms ()  Increase over previous (Percentage)  Real terms growth (Percentage) 
			 1996-97 44,483   58,820   
			 1997-98 46,031 3.5  59,134 0.5 0 
			 1998-99 48,037 4.4  60,189 1.8 2 
			 1999-2000 52,606 9.5  64,608 7.3 9 
			 2000-01 54,219 3.1  65,657 1.6 11 
			 2001-02 56,510 4.2  66,834 1.8 13 
			 2002-03 61,618 9.0 34 70,663 5.7 19 
			 2002-03(1) 64,443   73,903 10.6 25 
			 (1 )Represents GMS  PMS income. 
		
	
	 Break in series
	
		
			  Estimated average net income for principal GPMS GPs, UK, 2003-04 to 2005-06 (all income sources ) 
			   Amount ()  Increase over previous year (Percentage)  Percentage  Incomereal terms  ( 2007-08 )  ()  Over previous year (Percentage)  Real terms growth (Percentage) 
			 2003-04 81,566   90,903   
			 2004-05 100,170 22.8  108,639 19.5 20 
			 2005-06 110,004 9.8 35 116,839 7.5 29 
			  Note: Figures have been converted into real terms using 2007-08 GDP deflators (as at December 2007).  Source: The Information Centre for Health and Social Care. 
		
	
	The Department does not hold information on the pay of GPs with a Special Interest (GPwSIs). There are no national remuneration rates for GPwSI services, as each service will differ depending on local circumstances.

Health Education: Publications

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what NHS health advice booklets have been produced between July and December 2007; and what the  (a) print run and  (b) cost was in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: During the period 1 July to 31 December 2007 the Department produced the public facing leaflets shown in the following table with quantities and costs also shown.
	
		
			  Job number  Job title  Print run  Print cost ()  Production cost ()  Total cost ()  Delivery date 
			 282221 How to use your hearing aidlarge print (3P) 350 2,100 328.00 2,428 6 July 2007 
			 282769 Punjabi/Bengali/Gujarati/ArabicHepatitis C: Your questions answered (2P) 10,000 x 4 1,390.00 1,541.00 2,931.00 20 July 2007 
			 282775 FACE IT Hepatitis C leaflet dispenserAre you at risk? 2,000 3,615.00 612.00 4,227.00 27 July 2007 
			 282369 UrduHepatitis CYour questions answered (2P) 10,000 706.00 560.00 1,266.00 29 July 2007 
			 282900 Who cares? Information and support for the carers of people with dementiaAmended Reprint 30,000 11,234.00 550.00 11,784 31 July 2007 
			 282903 Keep Warm Keep WellAlternative formats Audio cassette: 3,000. Large Print 3,000, Braille 650 2,368.00 8,314.00 10,682 31 August 2007 
			 282909 An easy guide direct payments for people learning difficulties(33291 /7P) 10,000 16,766.00 480,00 17,246.00 31 August 2007 
			 282926 If you knew about flu 2007-0810 languages 168,500 9,500 430.00 9,930.00 6 August 2007 
			 282778 If You Knew About FluEnglish 2.2 million copies 39,150.00 820.00 39,527.20 31 July 2007 
			 282739 Cannabis and your Mental Health 5,000 930.00 86.00 1,016.00 31 August 2007 
			 282740 Frank Cannabistoo much too often? 5,000 1,250.00 258.00 1,508.00 31 August 2007 
			 282942 Immunisationalternative formats (Braille) 60 869 328.00 1,197.00 6 September 2007 
			 282163 Reducing the Risk of Cot DeathAmended Reprint 500,000 18,459.00 581.00 19,040 8 September 2007 
			 282079 GP bulletin June 2007 20,500 865.00 5,479.39 6,344.39 7 June 2007 
			 282882 A guide to receiving direct payments from your councilamended reprint. 20,000 9,931.00 550.00 10,481.00 31 August 2007 
			 282901 Who Cares? Braille/Audio 10 0 2,400.00 2,400.00 31 August 2007 
			 282903 Keep Warm Keep WellAlternative formats 7,150 4,268.00 6,714.00 10,982.00 31 August 2007 
			 282938 Why your child's weight matters (September 2007) 300,000 9,800.00 1,616.00 11,416.00 30 September 2007 
			 282940 HibDoes your child need a Hib booster immunisation? 1,500,000 28,341.00 328.00 28,669.00 1 August 2007 
			 282962 Keep warm, keep well 2007-08English leaflet 2.2 million copies 163,000.00 1,720.00 164,720.00 30 September 2007 
			 282964 Keep warm, keep well 2007-08Large print 4,150 (1) (1) (1) 30 September 2007 
			 282965 Keep warm, keep well 2007-08Learning disabilities 17,000 4,460.00 466.00 4,926.00 30 September 2007 
			 282966 Keep warm, keep well 2007-08Audio CD 650 (1) (1) (1) 30 August 2007 
			 282967 Keep warm, keep well 2007-08Braille 2,000 10,160 822 10,982 30 August 2007 
			 282997 How much is too much: over 25s leaflet2nd Amended Reprint (DH July 2007) 130,000 6,646.00 328.00 6,974.00 30 September 2007 
			 283006 How much is too much: under 25s leafletAmended reprint (DH July 2007) 130,000 8,622.00 328.00 8,950 30 September 2007 
			 283244 General Information for those embarking on Hormone Therapy 5,000 950.00 3,231.00 4,181.00 20 August 2007 
			 283245 Transgender Experiences: Information for trans people and their families, health and social care professionals. 5,000 794.00 (2) 794.00 20 August 2007 
			 283252 Meningitis leaflets 505,000 7,062.00 410.00 7,472.00 30 August 2007 
			 283270 Transgender Experiences: Information for Trans people and their families, Health and Social careNew job number 5,000 794.00 2,316.00 3,110.00 20 August 2007 
			 283283 Are you fully immunised against mumps? (269484) 200,000 1,244.00 328.00 1,572 20 August 2007 
			 283286 TB, BCG Vaccine and your baby 505,000 8,593.00 492.00 9,085.00 20 August 2007 
			 283488 Nursery Milk GuideReprint August 2007 1,050 730.00 258.00 988.00 31 August 2007 
			 283490 Age 65 and over leaflet 50,000 1,590.00 328.00 1,918 28 August 2007 
			 283491 WeaningReprint August 2007 (original version) 50,000 3,600.00 258.00 3,858.00 14 September 2007 
			 283492 Bottle feedingReprint August 2007 (original version) 50,000 3,000.00 258.00 3,258.00 14 September 2007 
			 283498 HS02 Healthy Start: Getting the Best from Healthy StartReprint August 2007 59,000 5,200.00 258.00 5,458.00 14 September 2007 
			 283805 If You Knew About FluArabic and Polish Reprints (DH September 2007) 20,000 3,440.00 246.00 3,686.00 14 September 2007 
			 283652 Testicular cancerSpot the symptoms early and reduce your risk 180,000 2,441.00 320.00 2,761 10 September 2007 
			 283653 Bowel cancer screeningThe facts (3p November 2007) 500,000 16,230.00 0 16,230.00 10 September 2007 
			 283789 HibDoes your child need a hib booster immunisation 350,000 11,070.00 246.00 11,316 24 September 2007 
			 283845 Frank leaflet reprint 500,000 36,538 1,334.00 37,872.00 30 September 2007 
			 283570 Ramadan Health GuideA guide to Healthy fasting 200,000 15,900.00 3,890.00 19,790 30 September 2007 
			 283490 Age 65 and over leaflet 50,000 1,590.00 328.00 1,918.00 30 September 2007 
			 284016 Department of Health Folic Acid leaflet 500 1,115.00 5,072.00 6,187.00 1 November 2007 
			 284199 Help is at Handreprint 1,500 2,895.00 1,077.00 3,972.00 31 October 2007 
			 284269 Healthcare Abroad 289,000 6,311.00 3,473.00 9,784.00 4 December 2007 
			 284320 5 A DAYEasy read reprint October 2007 5,000 2,900.00 430.00 3,330.00 27 December 2007 
			 284335 NHS Cervical ScreeningThe Facts (5P 272855) 3,475,800 59,537.64 492.00 60,029.64 20 December 2007 
			 284395 Does your son or daughter have a LTC? Getting them vaccinated will protect your child from flu. 50,000 1,976.00 328.00 2,304.00 29 October 2007 
			 284416 Pre-school immunisationA guide to vaccinations for 3 to 5-year-olds Vaccine tracking version. 100,000 8,845.00 328.00 9,173.00 29 October 2007 
			 284441 MMR The facts leaflets 100,000 3,437.00 328.00 3,765.00 30 November 2007 
			 284485 A quick guide to childhood immunisation (leaflet project) 276722 10,000 711.00 328.00 1,039.00 13 November 2007 
			 284537 A guide to immunisation for babies up to 13 months of age 350,000 34,200.00 328.00 34,528.00 26 November 2007 
			 (1) Job numbers 282964, 282966 and 282967 were charged together. (2) 283245 was cancelled prior to going to print.

Health in Pregnancy Grant

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health from what budget the health in pregnancy grant will be funded.

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
	The health in pregnancy grant will be funded from the consolidated fund. Further details are set out in paragraphs 545 and 546 of the explanatory notes to the Health and Social Care Bill 2007.

Health Services: West Sussex

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to inform the NHS bodies concerned that the terms of reference of any review of health services in north eastern West Sussex and eastern Surrey should not rule out the possibility of a new Horsham and Crawley Hospital.

Dawn Primarolo: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for planning and commissioning local services, including reviews of local health services. South East Coast Strategic Health Authority has confirmed to officials that any review by local PCTs and other relevant national health service organisations will take account of all viable options.
	Where it is agreed that the proposals to reconfigure services include any significant change to the way services are provided, local trusts have a duty to consult and involve the Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSCs). OSCs take on the role of scrutiny of the NHS, both major changes and the ongoing operation and planning of services. Where the OSCs disagree with decisions made by NHS organisations then they have the power to refer the decision to the Secretary of State.

Health Visitors: Urban Areas

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has issued guidance to primary care trusts on the number of health visitors each should employ at each grade per head of the population in urban areas.

Ann Keen: No guidance has been issued. It is for primary care trusts in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, and to commission services accordingly. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of health visiting services.

Hearing Aids: Digital Technology

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to collect data on waiting times for digital hearing aids.

Ivan Lewis: The Department will collect information on waits for audiology treatment, including the fitting of hearing aids, from April 2008.

HIV Infection

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the number of HIV positive people in the United Kingdom; and what proportion of them are believed to have contracted HIV from  (a) heterosexual and  (b) homosexual acts.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest overall estimate is that 73,000 persons of all ages were living with HIV in the United Kingdom in 2006.
	Estimates of the proportion of persons living with HIV in the UK whose infection is believed to have been acquired through heterosexual and homosexual or bisexual sex are only available for persons aged 15-59 due to there being limited data available for sexual behaviour in the general population. The available information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Estimated number of adults (15-59) living with HIV (includes both diagnosed and undiagnosed) in the UK for 2006 
			   Estimated number  Proportion of total (%) 
			 Men infected through homosexual or bisexual sex 30,100 43.4 
			 Men and women infected through heterosexual sex 36,400 52.4 
			 Men and women infected through other routes 2,900 4.2 
			 Total 69,400 100 
			  Source: The UK Collaborative Group for HIV and sexually transmitted infection surveillance (data published by the Health Protection Agency).

Homeopathy: Finance

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with representatives of  (a) primary care trusts and  (b) strategic health authorities on the funding of homeopathic treatments on the NHS;
	(2)  what recent submissions he has received on the withdrawal of funding from complementary and alternative treatments by  (a) NHS trusts and  (b) primary care trusts;
	(3)  what recent guidance his Department has provided to  (a) primary care trusts and  (b) NHS trusts on the provision of funding for homeopathic treatments.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 28 January 2008
	The Our Health, our care, our say White Paper makes it clear that primary care trusts (PCTs) will hold practices accountable for the use of public money under practice-based commissioning, and that PCTs will be expected to support practices that are innovative and entrepreneurial. This includes working with them to secure services that are needed locally, for example complementary or alternative therapies as a component of patient choice. However, any decisions on the provision of services are the responsibility of local national health service health care organisations, taking account of evidence on the safety and efficacy of the relevant treatments and the availability of suitably trained practitioners.

Hospitals: Closures

Robert Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) hospitals and  (b) other NHS units have closed since 1997; what the cost of these closures has been; and how much has been received from the sale of goods and equipment following such closures.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 28 January 2008
	This information is not collected centrally.

Hospitals: Standards

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals have come under special measures since May 2005; which consultancy firm was brought in for each case; and how much was spent on the consultancy in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: We have assumed in this case that the term 'special measures' refers to the financially challenged trusts.
	As identified in the Department's 2006-07 The (4th Quarter) report:
	At the end of 2006-07 the Department of Health identified 17 national health service trusts that are deemed to be in financial 'special measures' because of the severity of the financial challenges that they face.
	The following table outlines the cost and the consultancy company involved with each of the 17 financially challenged trusts.
	
		
			  Total costs of financially challenged trust review 
			  Organisation  Consultancy firm contracted  Cost to the NHS () 
			 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust PriceWaterhouseCoopers 83,112 
			 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust KPMG 277,961 
			 Royal Wolverhampton Hospital NHS Trust Ernst and Young 251,567 
			 Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust PriceWaterhouseCoopers 80,000 
			 Bromley Hospitals National Health Service Trust KPMG 96,884 
			 Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust KPMG 96,884 
			 The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust KPMG 96,884 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust KPMG 96,884 
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust Ernst and Young 124,652 
			 Barkering Havering and Redbridge Hospital NHS Trust Ernst and Young 161,394 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust PriceWaterhouseCoopers 65,022 
			 Surrey and Sussex healthcare NHS Trust Ernst and Young 212,109 
			 The Royal West Sussex NHS Trust PriceWaterhouseCoopers 96,897 
			 North Bristol NHS Trust Ernst and Young 183,108 
			 Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust KPMG 324,445 
			 Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust Ernst and Young 183,108 
			 Weston Area Health NHS Trust Ernst and Young and PriceWaterhouseCoopers 152,618 
			 Total cost to the NHS for the financially challenged trust reviews across England  2,583,531

Hospitals: Vetting

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects on hospitals of the time taken to complete criminal records bureau checks on applicants for hospital jobs.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally. Staff recruitment is a matter for local national health service employers.

Human Embryo Experiments: Licensing

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which centres have had research licence applications refused by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; on what grounds such refusals were made in each case; on how many occasions amended applications were received following initial refusal; and in how many such cases licences were granted, giving the changes made to the re-application in each case.

Dawn Primarolo: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that since 1999, the year from which a central record of licence committee decisions has been maintained, it has refused one application for a research licence.
	In 2004 the Newcastle Fertility Centre at LIFE applied for a licence to use embryos to study mitochondrial DeoxyriboNucleic Acid (DNA) disorders. This application was considered by the HFEA's Research Licence Committee on 15 July 2004. The Committee refused to grant a licence on the grounds that the proposed research activities were prohibited under paragraph 3(4) of Schedule 2 to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Representations against this decision by the centre were heard by the Research Licence Committee on 24 November 2004. The Committee decided to uphold its original decision and refused to grant a research licence. An appeal by the centre against this decision was heard by a HFEA Appeal Panel on 1 September 2005. After hearing arguments from both sides and obtaining independent scientific and legal advice, the Appeal Committee was satisfied that none of the activities in the proposed research involved altering the genetic structure of any cell while it formed part of an embryo. The Appeal Panel decided to grant a research licence authorising the use of human embryos to study the prevention of mitochondrial DNA disorders.
	The numbers of applications refused by the HFEA's Research Licence Committee is limited because the HFEA works closely with research teams on the development of the project, prior to a licence application being submitted, to ensure that it meets the requirements of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and the HFEA's code of practice. In this way, applications for projects that would not be considered suitable for licensing tend not to be submitted.
	Where a project would, in principle, be suitable to be licensed but insufficient information has been submitted to the Licence Committee, or the Committee is of the view that an aspect of the project needs to be reconsidered, it is usual practice for the Committee not to reject the application but to ask the applicant to submit further information or undertake changes to the specifications of the project, for reconsideration at a later date.

Incontinence

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters his Department has received since the deadline for comments on the proposed changes to Part IX of the Drug Tariff from  (a) right hon. and hon. Members and  (b) others; and whether the views expressed in those letters will be taken into account when he considers the options for Arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances - and related services - to Primary Care.  [Official Report, 17 March 2008, Vol. 473, c. 3MC.]

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 25 January 2008
	The following table summarises the number of letters the Department has received since 28 December 2007 regarding the review of part IX of the Drug Tariff. The majority of correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members enclosed letters from constituents.
	
		
			  Type  Number received after 28 December 
			 MP 135 
			 Other 229 
			 Total 364 
		
	
	As the review is ongoing, all comments will be considered.
	However, any correspondence dated after 28 December 2007 will not be counted among the responses to the three-month consultation 'Arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances and related services to Primary Care. Revised Proposals' as the closing date was 28 December 2007.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent  (a) in total,  (b) in civil servant time and  (c) on private consultants in relation to the consultation on NHS provision of stoma and incontinence appliances since its inception in October 2005.

Dawn Primarolo: The review of the arrangements under Part IX of the drug tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances and related services in primary care is addressing 487 million per annum of national health service expenditure.
	Costs for civil servants' time is not available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	To date, 2.2 million has been spent on the Part IX review with contractors. This covers both Phase 1a review of arrangements relating to dressings and chemical reagents which delivered 24 million per annum in savings to primary careand Phase 2stoma and incontinencewhich is ongoing.

Influenza

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doses of the antiviral drug Tamiflu have been bought by each Government Department for use by its staff in the event of an influenza pandemic.

Dawn Primarolo: Government Departments with a significant overseas presence, such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development, have bought Tamiflu for its members of staff and their dependents overseas. Approximately 48,000 treatment courses are available for use in the event of a pandemic. However, no Home Civil Service Departments have bought Tamiflu for the use of their staff.

Meat Hygiene Service: Finance

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the operating budget of the Meat Hygiene Service  (a) is in 2007-08 and  (b) was in (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2005-06 and (iii) 2006-07.

Dawn Primarolo: The gross expenditure of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) is as follows:
	
		
			   million 
			   Forecast  Actual 
			 2007-08 (1)88.1  
			 2004-05  83.7 
			 2005-06  88.2 
			 2006-07  91.3 
			 (1) Excluding transformation costs.  Note: The MHS is currently implementing a significant transformation programme in order to carry out its role at less cost, in line with Food Standard Agency's review of the delivery of official controls.

Meat Hygiene Service: Finance

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the operating budget for the Meat Hygiene Service is in  (a) England,  (b) Wales,  (c) Scotland and  (d) each region in 2007-08.

Dawn Primarolo: The gross expenditure of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) is not budgeted by country. Analysis is however undertaken following the finalisation of the annual accounts to show gross expenditure by country. For 2006-07 this was:
	
		
			   Gross expenditure ( million) 
			 England 70 
			 Wales 12 
			 Scotland 9 
		
	
	The MHS gross expenditure budgets by region for 2007-08 are:
	
		
			   Gross expenditure ( million) 
			 North 18 
			 Central 22 
			 South and West 15 
			 Wales(1) 10 
			 Scotland(2) 10 
			 (1) The MHS Wales region includes parts of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. (2) The MHS Scotland region includes part of Cumbria. 
		
	
	The gross expenditure budget for the corporate overhead for 2007-08 is 14 million.

Midwives: Training

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwifery training places there were in each English region in the academic year 2007-08.

Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in the following table, which shows the planned number of midwifery training places for each strategic health authority (SHA) for the academic year 2007-08.
	
		
			  Training places academic year 2006-07 
			   Midwifery degree  Diploma  18 month diploma  Total 
			 North East HSA 66 0 20 86 
			 North West HSA 194 0 52 246 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber HSA 162 23 0 185 
			 East Midlands HSA 38 112 14 164 
			 West Midlands HSA 204 0 45 249 
			 East of England HSA 0 215 0 215 
			 London HSA 66 187 201 454 
			 South East Coast HSA 96 65 38 199 
			 South Central HSA 114 29 28 171 
			 South West HSA 119 20 0 139 
			 England total 1,059 651 398 2,108

National User Forum on Mental Health

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the work of the National User Forum on mental health.

Ivan Lewis: The National User Forum on Mental Health, announced in 2000, was to be run by service users appointed within the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE). The national clinical director for Mental Health, Louis Appleby, held initial meetings with user groups which established their preference to be a part of integrated mental health reform, and laid out a programme of work linking in to other NIMHE initiatives.
	The NIMHE has been working for some time to strengthen its involvement of service users and carers in its work. NIMHE commissioned a report from Health and Social Care Advisory Service to review service user and carer involvement in NIMHE. The resultant 'Making a Real Difference' (MARD) report (April 2005) made 20 recommendations to take forward service user and carer involvement in NIMHE. The main focus of the MARD Programme was in strengthening NIMHE's own service user and carer involvement, ensuring good levels of involvement at national level, in its national programmes and regional work.
	User groups have been involved in many individual elements of mental health policy, including legislation and, currently, the development of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme.
	As we consider what is to replace the national service framework for mental health from 2009, we shall include service users in discussions and the resultant consensus.

Neurological Conditions

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of the National Service Framework for long term neurological conditions; and what the responsibilities of primary care trusts are with regard to the Framework.

Ann Keen: holding answer 24 January 2008
	The national service framework (NSF) for long-term conditions has a 10 year implementation programme from its publication in March 2005, with flexibility for primary care trusts to set the pace of change locally to take account of local priorities and needs. The NSF good practice guide demonstrates that that a number of organisations have successfully addressed aspects of service delivery outlined in the NSF.

NHS: Allowances

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place on introducing an interim adjustment in mileage allowances payable to NHS staff before the national review group reports.

Ann Keen: holding answer 21 January 2008
	NHS employers issued guidance on 10 December recommending increases to certain rates of national mileage allowances. This followed discussions between employer and staff representatives on 29 November. This is interim action, pending the outcome of the review of national health service mileage allowances being conducted by the NHS Staff Council.

NHS: Allowances

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the review group investigating mileage allowances payable to staff in the NHS will report.

Ann Keen: holding answer 21 January 2008
	The sub-group of the national health service staff council which is reviewing mileage allowances will report to the meeting of the council on 11 March.

NHS: Drugs

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the availability of lactose-free medication; and what his Department's policy is on lactose-free prescribable pharmaceuticals.

Dawn Primarolo: The availability of lactose-free medication is a matter for the pharmaceutical industry. The majority of people with lactose intolerance are able to tolerate small amounts of lactose in their diet and the relatively small amounts that might be present in medicines. Medicines containing lactose must have that ingredient declared on the labelling and the information leaflet in the pack should recommend that the patient contact their doctor before taking such a medicine if they have been told they have an intolerance to some sugars.

NHS: Film

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS Connecting for Health video on the Summary Care Record cost to make; how many actors were involved in the making of the film; and which parts each played.

Ben Bradshaw: The film, 'The Summary Care Recordthe story so far' cost 32,000 to make. It was made in response to requests from national health service staff for a tool to support local clinical engagement work describing the purpose and benefits of summary care records from the standpoint of real life experience.
	The film did not use actors. All those interviewed are real NHS staff or patients. Using genuine NHS staff and patients to talk from their own experience was seen as a crucial component contributing to the credibility and usefulness of the film.

NHS: Procurement

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the Ernst and Young report on collaborative procurement hubs to be published.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 28 January 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 127W.

NHS: Public Appointments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances he may suspend  (a) a chairman and  (b) a non-executive director of an NHS (i) trust or (ii) primary care trust using powers under sections 66 and 67(3) of the National Health Service Act 2006.

Ann Keen: The Secretary of State for Health can suspend a chairman or director of a national health service trust or a chairman or member of a primary care trust, by using powers under sections 66 and 67(3) of the National Health Service Act 2006 to make an intervention order.
	An intervention order under section 66 may be made if the Secretary of State considers that the trust is not performing one or more of its functions adequately or at all, or that there are significant failings in the way it is being run, and the Secretary of State is satisfied that it is appropriate for him to intervene under section 66.

NHS: Public Appointments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statutory provisions provide him with powers to suspend an  (a) chairman and  (b) non-executive director of an NHS (i) trust or (ii) primary care trust other than those under sections 66 and 67(3) of the National Health Service Act 2006.

Ann Keen: The Secretary of State has power to make regulations to provide for the tenure of office of the chairman and other members of a primary care trust (PCT), including the circumstances in which they cease to hold office or may be removed or suspended from office. The powers are contained in the National Health Service Act 2006, schedule 3, paragraph 4(l)(a).
	The Secretary of State has power to make similar regulations in respect of the chairman and directors of an NHS trust, under the National Health Service Act 2006, schedule 4, paragraph 4(l)(a).
	The current regulations do not generally provide power to suspend the chairman or non-officer members of PCTs, or the chairman or non-executive directors of any NHS trusts.
	Suspension is required however in cases where the PCT or NHS trust concerned has been designated a care trust under section 77 of that Act, and the chairman or non-executive is a member of a local authority who has been suspended from being a member of that authority by virtue of a decision of a case tribunal under the Local Government Act 2000.
	The relevant provision for suspension in such cases is (for PCTs), regulation 4(11) of the Primary Care Trusts (Membership, Procedure and Administration Arrangements) Regulations 2000. For NHS trusts the relevant provision is regulation 9(11) of the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1990.

Nutrition

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the health effects of not eating five portions of fruit and vegetables each day.

Dawn Primarolo: The recommendation to eat at least five portions a day is supported by the World Health Organisation, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and most leading cancer and heart disease organisations.
	In July 2000 the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and policy carried out an assessment of the available evidence on the benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption and concluded that higher intakes of fruit and vegetables could help to reduce the risk some cancers and cardio-vascular diseases. The Department has not commissioned any further research in this area.

Obesity: Eastern Region

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much  (a) Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn NHS Trust,  (b) Peterborough and Stamford NHS Foundation Trust,  (c) Hitchingbrooke Health Care Trust and  (d) Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust has spent in the last year on specialist lifting equipment and beds for obese people.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not held centrally. It is for primary care trusts to commission services locally.

Obesity: North East Region

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies his Department commissioned on child obesity in the North East and its implications for the future health of people in the region in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The prevalence of childhood obesity is measured in the North East through the National Child Measurement Programme. This is a national programme through which the height and weight of children in reception (four and five-year-olds) and year six (ten and eleven-year-olds) throughout the country are measured. These data are used to inform local planning and commissioning of services for children as well as providing population-level surveillance data to allow analysis of trends in growth patterns and obesity.
	Assessment of the potential health impact will be made through a range of national studies. In particular, the Department has established the National Child Measurement Programme (which will report North East figures in 2008) as well as the Health Survey for England to measure obesity levels throughout England.
	The North East strategic health authority reports that there are a number of actions being taken forward locally to help reduce overweight and obesity in the North East. These include projects encouraging healthier eating, promoting exercise and weight management and offering support through a range of facilities, such as the Healthworks healthy living resource centre in Easington, which brings together a range of services under one roof. The aim of these are to ensure that important messages about diet, physical activity and behavioural changes are consistent, high quality and that interventions are based in primary care settings across the North East.

Obesity: Surgery

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts  (a) offer and  (b) do not offer bariatric surgery.

Dawn Primarolo: Data on which primary care trusts have commissioned bariatric surgery are not collected centrally.

Patient Choice Schemes: Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Choose and Book supports Safari web browsers.

Ben Bradshaw: The patient-facing feature of Choose and Book, the patient web application, has now been certified compatible with all versions of Internet Explorer, and the latest version of Firefox, which together are used by of around 95 per cent. of internet users in the United Kingdom.
	Because of the number of different browser types and versions potentially available to internet users, priority has been given to certification of the application against the most popular browsers in the first instance. The Safari browser is used by only a small percentage of UK internet users and is not yet compatible but is expected to become compatible in due course.

Pharmacy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 1193-4W, on pharmacy, whether the 411 million excess for 2005-06 and the 558 million excess for 2006-07 represent excesses over the 500 million allowance for pharmacy contractors under the community pharmacy contractual framework.

Dawn Primarolo: The 500 million allowance for pharmacy contractors is for margins earned on all drugs. There is no separate allowance for generic drugs. The excess margins above the 500 million for all drugs were 300 million in 2005-06 and 511 million in 2006-07.

Plastic Surgery: Standards

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what legislation governs the standards of those performing aesthetic treatments, with particular reference to derma fillers.

Ben Bradshaw: The Care Standards Act 2000 and the Private and Voluntary Healthcare (England) Regulations 2001 cover cosmetic surgery and other listed services as set out in s2(7) of that Act. Any prescription-only medicines used in any treatment will be covered by the Medicines Act 1968. Most dermal fillers used in the United Kingdom are regulated as medical devices under the Medical Devices Regulations 2002.
	In addition, any clinical professionals involved in surgical or non-surgical cosmetic treatments should adhere to the codes of professional conduct set out by their regulatory bodies.

Primary Care Trusts: Public Appointments

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who has the power to  (a) appoint and  (b) dismiss chief executives of primary care trusts.

Ann Keen: The appointment and dismissal of primary care trusts' (PCTs) chief executives is a matter for PCTs, as independent employers, acting in accordance with the chief executive's employment contract and general employment law.

Private Finance Initiative

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to paragraph 33b, p. 79 of his Department's resource accounts 2006-07, if he will provide a breakdown by private finance initiative scheme of compensation payments made by his Department on behalf of NHS private finance initiative schemes that were cancelled or deferred.

Ben Bradshaw: The compensation sum of 7,339,280 referred to at paragraph 33(b) page 79 of the Department's 2006-07 resource accounts is in respect of payments to the preferred bidder consortium and their advisers for the Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust private finance initiative scheme following its cancellation in June 2006.

Prozac: Expenditure

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure of the NHS on Prozac was in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: Prozac is the trade name of the version of the antidepressant drug Fluoxetine marketed by Lilly. Other versions are available.
	In the 12 monthsOctober 2006 to September 2007 (the latest 12 months available)there were 38,679 prescription items dispensed in the community for Prozac at a net ingredient cost of 897,616. In addition there were 4,938,722 prescriptions for generic Fluoxetine or other branded versions of the drug dispensed at a cost of 17,915,210.
	The figures for the cost of Prozac use in hospitals are not available.

South Central Ambulance Primary Care Trust

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his strategy is for improving the performance of South Central Ambulance Primary Care Trust.

Ben Bradshaw: It is for strategic health authorities (SHAs), as the local headquarters of the national health service, and primary care trusts, as commissioners, to ensure that strategies for improving performance are delivered by ambulance trusts.
	The hon. Member may therefore wish to raise this matter directly with the chief executive of South Central SHA.
	More generally, the Department, via the Recovery and Support Unit, discusses performance with SHAs to ensure that SHAs work with local organisations to address performance issues, and if appropriate with support from the National Ambulance Performance Implementation Lead.